Rice Business Report
Risk Factors for Covid-19 Infection
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According to the European Society of Cardiology, individuals with heart conditions such as heart failure,
dilated cardiomyopathy, advanced forms of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and patients
with congenital cyanotic heart disease are at the highest risk
Severe obesity -
There are increasing number of reports that have linked obesity to more severe Covid-19 infection and
death. Obesity reduces the protective cardio-respiratory reserves and weakens the immune regulation
that appears likely to help the progression to critical stage of the disease.
Researchers found that among individuals with Covid-19 aged less than 60 years in New York City, those
with a BMI between 30-34 Kg/m2 and greater than 35 Kg/m2 were 1.8 times and 3.6 times more likely to
be admitted to critical care respectively than individuals with a BMI lesser than 30 Kg/m2.
A new study published in 2020 in Diabetes Care concluded that patients with Covid-19 are two and a half
times more likely to have severe pneumonia if they are obese than if they are not. Obesity brings with
itself a chronic inflammatory state. Whether obesity is an independent risk factor for susceptibility to
infection requires further research.
Diabetes -
Diabetes is a risk factor for hospitalization and mortality of the Covid-19 infection. Diabetics have impaired
immune response to infection concerning cytokine profile and changes in immune-responses including
T-cell and macrophage activation. Poor glycemic control impairs several aspects of the immune
response to viral infection and also to the potential bacterial secondary infection in the lungs. Poor glycemic
control is a risk factor for Covid-19 infection and its adverse outcomes. Hence the importance of
tight glycemic control in diabetics cannot be overlooked
Chronic kidney disease -
People with chronic kidney disease are at an increased risk of the infection. People on dialysis can have
weaker immune systems, making it harder to fight infections. Nonetheless, the kidney patients need to
continue with their regularly scheduled dialysis treatments and to take necessary precautions as recommended
by their healthcare provider.
People with a kidney transplant need to take anti-rejection medicines, also known as immunosuppressive
medicines, which keep the immune system less active
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