Cancer
Having cancer can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Treatments for many types of cancer can weaken your body’s ability to fight off disease. At this time, based on available studies, having a history of cancer may increase your risk.
Get more information:
Cancer | CDC
American Cancer Society: What People with Cancer Should Know about Coronavirusexternal icon
Chronic kidney disease
Having chronic kidney disease of any stage can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.
Get more information:
Chronic kidney disease
National Kidney Foundation: Kidney disease and COVID-19external icon
Chronic liver disease
Having chronic liver disease, such as alcohol-related liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and autoimmune hepatitis, and especially cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.
Get more information:
Liver Disease | NIDDK (nih.gov)external icon
American Liver Foundation: Your Liver & COVID-19external icon
Chronic lung diseases
Having chronic lung diseases can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. These chronic lung diseases may include:
Asthma, if it’s moderate to severe
Bronchiectasis (thickening of the lungs airways)
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (chronic lung disease affecting newborns)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
Having damaged or scarred lung tissue such as interstitial lung disease (including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)
Cystic fibrosis, with or without lung or other solid organ transplant
Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs)
Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)
Get more information:
COPD | CDC
Asthma | CDC
People with Moderate to Severe Asthma | CDC
American Lung Association: Controlling Chronic Lung Diseases Amid COVID-19 external icon
Cystic Fibrosis | CDC
Dementia or other neurological conditions
Having neurological conditions, such as dementia, can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.
Get more information:
Dementia | CDC
Alzheimer’s Association: COVID-19, Alzheimer’s and Dementia external icon
Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
Having either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.
Get more information:
Diabetes | CDC
American Diabetes Association: How COVID-19 Impacts People with Diabetesexternal icon
Down syndrome
Having Down syndrome can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.
Get more information:
Down syndrome | CDC
Global Down Syndrome Foundationexternal icon
National Down Syndrome Society: COVID-19 and Down Syndromeexternal icon
Heart conditions
Having heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, and possibly high blood pressure (hypertension) can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.
Get more information:
Heart Disease | CDC
COVID-19 | American Heart Associationexternal icon
HIV infection
Having HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.
Get more information:
HIV Infection | CDC
Interim Guidance for COVID-19 and Persons with HIVexternal icon
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system)
Having a weakened immune system can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Many conditions and treatments can cause a person to be immunocompromised or have a weakened immune system. Primary immunodeficiency is caused by genetic defects that can be inherited. Prolonged use of corticosteroids or other immune weakening medicines can lead to secondary or acquired immunodeficiency.
People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be protected even if they are fully vaccinated. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
People with moderately to severely compromised immune systems should receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after the second dose.
Get more information:
Types of Primary Immune Deficiency Diseasesexternal icon
The Jeffrey Modell Foundationexternal icon
Immune Deficiency Foundationexternal icon
Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) | CDC
Mental health conditions
Having mood disorders, including depression, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.
Get more information:
NIMH » Shareable Resources on Coping with COVID-19 (nih.gov)external icon
NIMH » Depression (nih.gov)external icon
Mood Disorders | MentalHealth.govexternal icon
Overweight and obesity
Overweight (defined as a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 but < 30 kg/m2), obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2 but < 40 kg/m2), or severe obesity (BMI of ≥40 kg/m2), can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. The risk of severe COVID-19 illness increases sharply with elevated BMI.
Get more information:
Obesity | CDC
Obesity, Race/Ethnicity, and COVID-19 | CDC
Obesity Action Coalition: COVID-19 and Obesityexternal icon
...continued at
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html