Risk factors for COVID-19 infection

Covid-19 is an acronym for Coronavirus Disease 2019. Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that are common all over the world. It can cause respiratory illness in people and animals. This special one was launched in Wuhan city in late 2019 in China. Over the past two decades, coronavirus outbreaks have also caused global concern, including Acute Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and, most recently, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012.

Covid-19 is a disease caused by SARS-Cov-2 which doctors may identify as a respiratory tract infection. It can affect the upper respiratory tract, e.g. Such as the sinuses, nose, and throat, or lower respiratory tract. Windpipe and lungs. In severe cases, respiratory disease and pneumonia can also occur.

On January 30, 2020, the WHO declared a global health crisis of the Covid-19 outbreak. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared it a global epidemic.

Risk Factors -

The following are the risk factors that make people more likely to get Covid-19 infection -

65 years and older -

People 65 years of age or older have an increased risk of COVID-19 infections due to their reduced immunity. They are likely to have some associated co-disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Also, the course of the disease results in more severe deaths. However, its prevalence in the elderly can be reduced by taking appropriate preventive measures.

Chronic lung disease and asthma -

People with asthma are more likely to catch Covid-19. Hospital data show that respiratory patients are more likely to have severe complications. Because there is no cure yet, the best thing people can do is to protect themselves from infection. The same is true of other lung diseases.

Severe heart condition -

Covid-19 directly damages the lungs and responds to inflammation, which puts stress on the cardiovascular system in two ways, e.g. Infection of the lungs lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and the inflammatory effects of the virus itself also lower blood pressure. In such cases, the heart must beat faster and harder to deliver oxygen to the main organs.

According to the European Society Cardiology, patients with advanced forms of heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and congenital cyanotic heart disease have the highest risk.

Severe obesity -

There are many reports that obesity has been linked to more serious Covid-19 infections and death. Obesity reduces vascular-respiratory reserves and impairs immune regulation which appears likely to help progress to the critical stage of the disease.

Researchers have found that in people with COVID-19 under the age of 0 in New York City, -30--34 kg. People with a BMI between / m2 and more than K Kg / m2 were 1.8 times and 3.6 times more severe. Take care compared to individuals with a BMI of less than K0 kg / m2.

A new study published in Diabetes Care in 2020 found that patients with Covid-19 were twice as likely to develop unstable pneumonia if they were not obese. Obesity brings with it a prolonged inflammatory state. Further research is needed to determine whether obesity is an independent risk factor for susceptibility to infection.

Diabetes -

Diabetes is a risk factor for hospitalization and mortality from COVID-19 infections. Patients with diabetes have altered cytokine profile-related immune commitment to infection and immune-response, including T-cell and macrophage activation. Poor glycemic control impairs many aspects of the immune response to viral infections and potential bacterial secondary infections in the lungs. Poor glycemic control is a risk factor for Covid-19 infection and its adverse consequences. Therefore the importance of tight glycemic control in patients with diabetes cannot be overlooked.

Chronic Kidney Disease -

People with chronic kidney disease have an increased risk of infection. People with dialysis may have a weakened immune system, making it difficult to fight infection. However, kidney patients need to continue their regular scheduled dialysis treatment and take the necessary precautions as recommended by their healthcare provider.

People with kidney transplants need to take anti-rejection drugs, also called immunosuppressive drugs, which keep the immune system less active.

Liver disease -

All patients with liver disease are at risk of adverse consequences of the virus. Also, some people with certain liver conditions are very sensitive. This includes people on immune suppression for liver transplants or for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and people with liver cancer who undergo active chemotherapy.

Immune-compromising people -

Anyone of any age group can make immune-compromises. Conditions that will cause an individual to develop immune-compromise include cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiency, poorly controlled AIDS and corticosteroids, and other immune-weakening drugs.

There are reports that, in some Covid-19 patients, death may have been caused by a cytokine hurricane, when the immune system goes into overdrive, there is also damage to healthy tissue that can lead to multiple organ failure, sepsis, and death.

Conclusion -

Some people have an increased risk of serious infection if they catch Covid-19. Everyone needs to take action to protect themselves and others from catching or spreading it. But high-risk class people must take all necessary precautions to protect themselves.