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When vaccines for COVID-19 first became available, states prioritized at-risk populations, including people with comorbidities and underlying conditions. Certain people with comorbidities were eligible to receive the vaccine before others to provide extra protection to those who were more likely to experience severe cases of COVID-19 or death.
But, what are comorbidities—and how do they affect COVID-19? Here’s what experts told us, plus how to know if you have one.
“Comorbidities are the presence of two or more diseases in the same person,” said Jooby Babu, M.D., a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Southern California. “For instance, a person who has diabetes and hypertension, or diabetes and kidney failure.”
The term comorbidity was first documented in the 1970s by the renowned doctor and epidemiologist A.R. Feinstein, who used the term when referring to people who suffered from rheumatic fever and multiple other diseases.
A disease weakens the body’s systems, making it difficult for the body to eliminate the cause of the disease and to fight invaders, like viruses and bacteria. When two or more conditions are present at the same time, this can be very taxing on the body, and the affected person may need longer to recover than someone who does not have comorbidity.
After the start of the pandemic, researchers began studying the link between people with certain comorbidities and the COVID-19 disease. In September 2020, a study published in PLoS Medicine examined more than 31,000 adult patients in the U.S. and found that comorbidities with COVID-19 put people at a higher risk of mortality.
Comorbidities are a serious health concern, said Babu, because the presence of two or more conditions increases the chances of hospitalization and the risk of death and affects quality of life. When a person experiences comorbid conditions, they may have a compromised immune system or need additional care that exposes them to others. Plus, they may already be experiencing complications from the underlying condition that puts increased stress on their body. According to a study published by the Annals of Family Medicine, “Comorbidity is associated with worse health outcomes, more complex clinical management and increased health care costs.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a list of comorbid conditions in COVID-19 patients, which includes cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, heart disease, Down syndrome, obesity, pregnancy and type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus.
A July 2021 study conducted by the CDC involving more than 500,000 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 2020 to March 2021 identified several risk factors for death. The strongest were obesity, anxiety and fear-related disorders, and diabetes with complications. It also found that risk increases with the number of comorbidities.
The opportunity to get the COVID-19 vaccine came as welcome news to those who live with chronic health conditions. For Babu, it was an important development. “Patients with comorbidities should get vaccinated as early as possible,” said Babu.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is also effective in breakthrough infections. A breakthrough infection is when someone who is fully vaccinated contracts the disease. Vaccination can decrease the severity of COVID-19 and hospitalizations, as was seen in the results of a December 2021 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine that examined electronic medical record data from a large U.S. sample of vaccinated immunocompromised individuals.
Whether you’ve been vaccinated or not, if you live with a chronic health condition, it’s even more important that you follow the hygiene and safety guidelines set out by the CDC. This may include limiting person-to-person contact and wearing a mask in public areas. And, of course, it’s always important to be vigilant about hand-washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizers.
It’s also important to reduce the risk of medication interactions, so if you live with multiple conditions or disorders, make sure your doctor knows all prescribed meds and over-the-counter drugs you’re taking.
The situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to change quickly; it’s possible that information or data has changed since publication. While we are trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible,
we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations by using the CDC, WHO and their local public health department as resources.