Health conditions that increase mortality risk for COVID-19

A large international research study sheds light on the chronic diseases that put you at higher risk of dying from COVID-19.

From the start of the pandemic, it has been found that people with underlying health conditions are at greater risk of dying from COVID-19, and research into the potential risk factors for COVID-19 mortality continues to grow. According to researchers, previous studies have been immaterial for a very limited number of countries, studies, or conditions. This prompted a team to take a broader and more global approach to investigate the link between pre-existing health conditions and death from COVID-19.

The researchers published in PLOS ONE analyzed data from over 65,000 patients from 25 different studies. They examined 11 chronic conditions in patients from four continents – Asia, Africa, Europe and North America – to assess the impact of pre-existing comorbidities on the risk of COVID-19 mortality. The 11 comorbidities analyzed included; Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and HIV / AIDS.

The results show that of the 11 chronic diseases analyzed, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and cancer have the highest risk of death from COVID-19.

The study suggests that pre-existing cardiovascular disease can double a patient's risk of dying from COVID-19. The risk of death was 80% higher in patients with high blood pressure, 1.5 times higher in diabetics and cancer patients, and 3 times higher in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Cerebrovascular disease, chronic liver disease, COPD, asthma, and HIV / AIDS were not significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality from COVID-19.

Penn State College of Medicine researchers discuss that their findings may help develop public health strategies to target these high-risk populations. Given the ongoing vaccine development, the results support the idea that priority should be given to vaccinating individuals at high risk for COVID-19 mortality.

This research also highlights the importance of protecting vulnerable populations with specific comorbidities and tailoring treatment to their needs. The CDC emphasizes that people with underlying diseases:

Continue your medication and treatment plan
Ensure a 30-day supply of medication
Don't hesitate to seek emergency care for an underlying disease
If you have any concerns, contact a doctor.

Further research is needed to fully understand the risk of pre-existing health conditions, particularly the effects of race and ethnicity, on COVID-19 morbidity. However, these findings can help inform strategies for preventing pandemics and are likely to be further developed by future research.

Written by Helen Massy, BSc.

References:

Certain pre-existing medical conditions can double and triple the risk of death for COVID-19. EurekAlert !. (2020). Retrieved October 14, 2020 from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/ps-cpc100820.php.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Retrieved October 14, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc . gov% 2Fcoronavirus% 2F2019-ncov% 2Necessary additional precautions% 2FGroups at higher risk.html.

Ssentongo, P., Ssentongo, A., Heilbrunn, E., Ba, D. & Chinchilli, V. (2020). Association of Cardiovascular Disease and 10 Other Pre-Existing Comorbidities with COVID-19 Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLOS ONE, 15 (8), e0238215. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238215

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