Researchers from across BHP are collaborating to analyse and summarise the latest COVID-19 literature to help inform clinical colleagues. Today’s update focuses on comorbidities – much press coverage has focused on ‘underlying health conditions’ that can make coronavirus more severe or even fatal. But what are these conditions and what are the facts?
RESEARCH UPDATE – 9th APRIL 2020
In summary:
Analysis of 10 studies had shown that, of the ~50,000 #coronavirus patients which the studies looked at:
- 39% had more than one comorbidity (underlying health condition)
- 22% had hypertension
- 21% had cardiovascular disease
- 18% had obesity
- 16% had diabetes
- 9% had cancer
- 8% had cerebrovascular disease (e.g. dementia)
- 7% had a respiratory disease
- 4% had COPD
- 4% had kidney disease
- 1-2% were immunodeficient
One Chinese study of 1,590 coronavirus patients found that, of those who were treated in ICU or passed away as a result of the virus: 33% had one comorbidity (underlying health condition) and 40% had two comorbidities.
The most common risk factors for ICU admission in coronavirus patients are:
- Age – 60+
- Sex – male
- Body type – obesity
- Health conditions – diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease
Of coronavirus patients admitted to ICU:
- 73% were male
- 65% are white, 35% from BAME groups
- Around 37% of admissions were people with obesity