Written by Longjam Dineshwori | Updated : October 13, 2021 11:46 AM IST
Risk Factors for Covid-19 Severity
A new study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal revealed that being overweight may increase your risk of worse outcomes from COVID-19, including higher ICU admissions. According to the authors from the University of Oxford in the UK, the risk of worse outcomes from COVID-19 start rising in people with a BMI above 23 kilogrammes per square metre (kg/m2), which is considered to be in the healthy range. For each one unit increase in BMI, the risk of hospitalisation increases by 5 per cent higher and the risk of ICU admission by 10 per cent, they said.
People who are underweight (BMI less than 18.5) are also at a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19, the same Lancet study noted. Previous studies have also linked being underweight to higher rates of hospitalization and death. In a study published last month, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described having a very high or very low BMI as a strong risk factor for more severe cases of COVID-19.
Several studies have indicated that people with diabetes are more likely to have more severe symptoms and complications from COVID-19, when infected with the virus. Having heart disease or other conditions along diabetes could further worsen the severity of Covid-19. So, keep your diabetes well-managed to reduce your risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
Pregnancy is also believed to be a risk factor for severe COVID-19. Preliminary findings from a National Institutes of Health study also suggested pregnant women who experienced severe symptoms of COVID-19 may be at higher risk for cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm birth.
According to a study published in the journal EBioMedicine, children and young adults undergoing cancer treatment are likely to experience a prolonged Covid-19 infection, testing positive for months, due to their compromised immune systems. A previous study published in the International Journal of Clinical Oncology also found more severe Covid-19 infection and significantly higher mortality in cancer patients compared to non-cancer patients.
Don’t Miss Out on the Latest Updates.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today!
Refresh Page