The COVID-19 virus is nondiscriminating in its spread, but there are certain conditions that make individuals more likely to suffer severe symptoms and outcomes.
This is the list of underlying conditions known to exacerbate the virus impacts, according to the Oregon Health Authority:
• Lung disease, including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) or other chronic conditions associated with impaired lung function or that require home oxygen
• Compromised immune system (immunosuppression) (e.g., seeing a doctor for cancer and treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation, receiving an organ or bone marrow transplant, taking high doses of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressant medications, HIV with a CD4 count <200)
• Blood disorders (e.g., sickle cell disease or on blood thinners)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Current or recent pregnancy (in the last two weeks)
• Diabetes, or other endocrine disorders
• Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
• Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
• Neurological and neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions