The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has provided an updated list of those who are at increased risk for severe illness because of COVID-19. It includes older adults, with CDC noting the risk increases with age.
The CDC says 8 out of 10 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States, as of June 25, 2020, are in adults age 65 or older. But it also notes that children with medically complex conditions are at higher risk than other children.
The CDC says that people of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19:
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
- Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Sickle cell disease
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
The CDC says. based on current information, people with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:
- Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
- Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
- Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
- Liver disease
- Pregnancy
- Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
- Smoking
- Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
The CDC has also provided a link for the medical evidence behind their statements of who is at higher risk. Click here for that site.