On June 25, the CDC broadened its definition of those who are at an increased risk of severe illness related to COVID-19. Previously, the CDC specified that those 65 and older were at increased risk. Now, it has removed the specific age threshold and warns more generally that risk for severe illness increases steadily as you age.

The CDC similarly updated its list of underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness related to COVID-19, which now includes:

• chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• obesity (body mass index of 30 or higher)
• immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• serious heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies)
• sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• children who are medically complex, who have neurologic, genetic, metabolic conditions, or who have congenital heart disease (in comparison to other children)

Racial and ethnic minority groups are also at increased risk during COVID-19 due to various differences in living conditions, work circumstances, and health or healthcare inequities.

Individuals with certain other conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, but the data is limited and more research is needed. Those conditions include:

• 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 lunch tissues)
• smoking
• thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus

The update includes general reminders to limit interactions with other people as much as possible and take precautions (including social distancing, wearing a mask, and frequent handwashing or hand-sanitizing) when you do interact with others, as well as specific actions individuals should take based upon the particular medical condition from which they suffer. Of particular interest, the CDC recommends such actions not only for those who are at higher risk themselves, but also for anyone who lives with one of them. In deciding whether to engage in any particular outing or activity, the CDC repeatedly cautions that “the more people you interact with, the more closely you interact with them, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.”

By Rebecca D. Bullard, rbullard@dsda.com