Elderly people above 70 years of age and those with underlying health conditions (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer) are considered to be more at risk of developing severe symptoms. Men in these groups also appear to be at a slightly higher risk than females.
- People of 70 years and older and those with underlying health conditions (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer) are considered to be more at risk of developing severe symptoms. This includes people (18 years and older) with the following health problems:
- Abnormalities and disfunctions of the respiratory tract and lungs;
- Chronic heart conditions;
- Diabetes mellitus;
- Severe kidney conditions requiring dialysis or kidney transplant;
- Reduced resistance to infections:
- Through medication for auto-immune diseases,
- After organ transplant
- haematological diseases (blood diseases)
- In the case of congenital immune disorders, or those developed later, for which treatment is necessary
- In the case of chemotherapy and /or radiation in cancer patients;
- An untreated HIV-infection or an HIV-infection with a CD4-number lower than 200/mm3.
To have an idea of the case fatality rate of COVID-19 by age, look here. or if you want more information by preexisting health conditions, look here.