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NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
Sat Feb 6, 2021, 02:24 PM Feb 2021

Three Most Dangerous Underlying Conditions for COVID-19

https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/covid-underlying-conditions.html

Three Most Dangerous Underlying Conditions for COVID-19
These chronic health problems worry doctors the most when it comes to the coronavirus

by Michelle Crouch, AARP, February 3, 2021

As the coronavirus pandemic rounds the corner on its first year, doctors and researchers are getting a better handle on which patients are most likely to end up fighting for their lives after getting COVID-19 — and which ones are most likely to recover.

It's well-established that risk increases with age. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also lists nearly two dozen health conditions that could put you at higher risk of becoming seriously ill or dying of COVID-19.

But which conditions are the most dangerous?

AARP asked several physicians on the front lines which health conditions worry them most. Although their responses were varied, three answers came up again and again: diabetes, high blood pressure/underlying heart disease and obesity.

Their experience aligns with the results of one of the largest studies so far on COVID-19 mortality, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases in late December. It analyzed data from nearly 67,000 hospitalized coronavirus patients and found the following health conditions are associated with a higher risk of death:


o Obesity
o Diabetes (with complications such as organ damage)
o High blood pressure (with complications such as heart damage or kidney disease)

All three are inflammatory diseases that are prevalent among American adults, and experts say they are closely linked.

Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes and high blood pressure, and diabetes can contribute to high blood pressure. Meanwhile, both diabetes and high blood pressure can trigger kidney disease and lung disease, two other conditions that make COVID-19 more risky, according to the CDC.

(snip)

High-risk condition: Obesity

What the numbers say: Obese people diagnosed with COVID-19 are more than twice as likely to be hospitalized and about 50 percent more likely to die compared to patients who are a healthy weight, according to a meta-analysis published in Obesity Reviews. (Obesity is defined as those with a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or above.)

(snip)

High-risk condition: High blood pressure

What the numbers say: When researchers analyzed 22 studies from eight countries last year, they found that high blood pressure was present in 42 percent of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, making it the most prevalent health condition by far. Even more stunning: Those patients had twice the risk of death compared with patients without high blood pressure, said Vikramaditya Samala Venkata, M.D., one of the study's authors and a hospital medicine physician at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H.

(snip)

High-risk condition: Diabetes

What the numbers say: An analysis of the medical records of 61 million people in England published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that the risk of dying from COVID-19 was almost three times higher for people with type 1 diabetes and almost twice as high for people with type 2 diabetes, compared with those without.

(snip ... click the link above to read the entire article!)




PLEASE NOTE: For all other www.aarp.org content: all rights are reserved, and content may be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, for single use, or by nonprofit organizations for educational purposes, if correct attribution is made to AARP.


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Poiuyt

(18,087 posts)
3. My doctor said that high blood pressure that's treated is not a risk factor
Sat Feb 6, 2021, 03:08 PM
Feb 2021

So everyone should get on blood pressure drugs if you need them.

You're welcome

Maxheader

(4,366 posts)
4. Once corona gets inside of those with any of those conditions...I understand the consequences..but..
Sat Feb 6, 2021, 03:21 PM
Feb 2021

What makes a person more susceptible to having the virus enter their bodies?

Even with masks I think their are people that acquire diseases more readily

than others?....

MyMission

(1,845 posts)
7. See my post below
Sat Feb 6, 2021, 03:54 PM
Feb 2021

Post #5, addressing evidence that boosting vitamin D levels will also boost immune response and may reduce complications and morbidity, as well as likelihood of infection.

I know one woman who has been exposed 5 times, 2 directly, and did not contract covid.
Some MDs noted her high levels of vitamin D. They also questioned her blood type, which is A+. There's some empirical research being done on blood types, but I haven't followed that much. One can't change their blood type, but they can improve their vitamin D levels.

MyMission

(1,845 posts)
5. Low vitamin D levels are pervasive in severe complications
Sat Feb 6, 2021, 03:40 PM
Feb 2021

I have found your posts to be very informative. Are you aware of the vitamin D connection?

Researchers have been looking at the data since at least spring of 2020. Early on I was told that it is extremely crucial to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D to fight covid. Of course it's beneficial to our overall immunity, but many MDs don't ever check levels or consider it when treating patients for various conditions and illnesses. Mine have been at low or just below "normal" levels at various points in my life, and I've taken prescription and OTC doses over the years to build up my levels. Since the start of the pandemic I've been taking vitamin D supplements regularly.

New Study Found 80% of COVID-19 Patients Were Vitamin D Deficient
Written by the Healthline Editorial Team on October 27, 2020 — Fact checked by Dana K. Cassell
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/new-study-found-80-percent-of-covid-19-patients-were-vitamin-d-deficient

Another source:
"Several studies have brought to light that patients with vitamin D deficiency have a worse outcome in COVID-19," said pulmonologist and internist Dr. Len Horovitz, of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "This is not surprising since vitamin D seems to have a beneficial effect on the immune system and wound healing."

...prior study by Holick found that having a sufficient amount of vitamin D might also reduce the risk of becoming infected with the new coronavirus by 54%. Along with helping reduce the risks associated with the new coronavirus, being vitamin D-sufficient does the same against other viruses that cause upper respiratory tract illnesses, including the flu, according to Holick.
https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200925/low-vitamin-d-levels-tied-to-higher-odds-for-severe-covid

Here's one more source, from early data:
Vitamin D levels appear to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates
Patients with severe deficiency are twice as likely to experience major complications
Date:
May 7, 2020
Source:
Northwestern University
Summary:
Researchers analyzed patient data from 10 countries. The team found a correlation between low vitamin D levels and hyperactive immune systems. Vitamin D strengthens innate immunity and prevents overactive immune responses. The finding could explain several mysteries, including why children are unlikely to die from COVID-19.

Led by Northwestern University, the research team conducted a statistical analysis of data from hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States.

The researchers noted that patients from countries with high COVID-19 mortality rates, such as Italy, Spain and the UK, had lower levels of vitamin D compared to patients in countries that were not as severely affected.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200507121353.htm

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
6. My mister is already taking Rx vitamin-D ... but I've added OTC vitamin-D to my regimen also.
Sat Feb 6, 2021, 03:52 PM
Feb 2021

In addition, we're taking a daily OTC of zinc. Both otc supplements are from Costco (Nature Made brand, I think) In bulk... it should last us until covid is over (or until it catches up with us).

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