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What makes you high-risk for severe COVID-19?

People of all ages can get COVID-19 but being “high-risk” means you have a medical condition(s) or lifestyle factor(s) that can cause you to get really sick. This can lead to being hospitalized, needing intensive care, requiring a ventilator to help you breathe, or even death.

Having a risk factor is more common than you think.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that even just one of the common conditions below significantly increases your chances of severe illness. The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk is.

Your risk of becoming really sick increases with the following factors and health conditions

• Age 50+
• Cancer
• Certain mental health conditions
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic lung disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Dementia or other neurological conditions
• Diabetes
• Disabilities
• Heart conditions
• HIV infection
• Obesity and being overweight
• Physical inactivity
• Pregnant or recently pregnant
• Racial, ethnic, or economic disparity that affects access to healthcare
• Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
• Smoking (current or former)
• Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
• Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
• Substance use disorders
• Tuberculosis
• Weakened immune system

Treating COVID-19

If you’re at high risk for severe COVID-19 and test positive, authorized treatment options are available. Treatment needs to be started as soon as possible after you develop symptoms to be effective. So, talk to your doctor to determine whether one of the authorized treatment options is right for you. If you don’t have a doctor, you can visit a Test to Treat location, talk to a pharmacist, schedule a telehealth visit, or contact your local health department.