Increased COVID-19 risk: Conditions that can increase chances of severe symptoms (updated)

Which conditions can lead to severe COVID-19 symptoms

Months into the COVID-19 pandemic, many could consider it common knowledge that certain chronic and pre-existing medical conditions could increase someone’s risk of developing some of the more severe symptoms of the coronavirus should they become infected.

As researchers and other clinical experts continue to learn more about the virus, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its list of conditions that carry an increased risk of developing those severe symptoms.

The complete list of conditions are:

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• Immunocompromised following organ transplant
• Obesity (BMI of 30 or higher)
• Heart disease, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathies
• Sickle cell
• Type 2 diabetes

Additionally, as researchers still have more to learn about the virus and its impact on people with chronic conditions, the CDC has also updated its list of conditions that might carry an increased risk of people developing severe symptoms. Regardless, the CDC urges careful precautions to those living with these chronic conditions.

Those conditions are:

• Asthma
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• High blood pressure
• Immunocompromised following blood or bone marrow transplant, HIV or use of corticosteroids
• Neurological conditions
• Liver disease
• Pregnancy
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Type 1 diabetes

Should you or someone you know be living with one of these conditions, find the CDC’s COVID-19-specific recommendations here.