Certain Medical Conditions and Risk for Severe COVID-19 Illness

Preventive measures for COVID-19 (including vaccination , wearing a mask  and social distancing ) are important especially if you are older or have multiple or severe health conditions. You can learn about CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, including how medical conditions and other factors inform recommendations.

• This list is presentedin alphabetical order and not in order of risk.
• CDC completed an evidence review process  for each medical condition on this list to ensure they met criteria for inclusion on this webpage.
• We are learning more about COVID-19 every day, and this list may be updated as the science evolves.

Having cancer can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Treatments for many types of cancer can weaken your body’s ability to fight off disease. At this time, based on available studies, having a history of cancer may increase your risk.

Having chronic kidney disease of any stage can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

• Asthma, if it’s moderate to severe
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• Having damaged or scarred lung tissue such as interstitial lung disease (including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)
• Cystic fibrosis, with or without lung or other solid organ transplant
• Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)

Having neurological conditions, such as dementia, can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Having either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Having Down syndrome can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Having heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, and possibly high blood pressure (hypertension) can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Having HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Having a weakened immune system can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Many conditions and treatments can cause a person to be immunocompromised or have a weakened immune system. Primary immunodeficiency is caused by genetic defects that can be inherited. Prolonged use of corticosteroids or other immune weakening medicines can lead to secondary or acquired immunodeficiency.

Having chronic liver disease, such as alcohol-related liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and especially cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Overweight (defined as a body mass index  (BMI) > 25 kg/m²  but < 30 kg/m² ), obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m² but < 40 kg/m² ), or severe obesity (BMI of ≥40 kg/m² ), can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.  The risk of severe COVID-19 illness increases sharply with elevated BMI.

Pregnant and recently pregnant people (for at least 42 days following end of pregnancy) are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people.

Having hemoglobin blood disorders like sickle cell disease (SCD) or thalassemia can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Being a current or former cigarette smoker can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. If you currently smoke, quit. If you used to smoke, don’t start again. If you’ve never smoked, don’t start.

Having had a solid organ or blood stem cell transplant, which includes bone marrow transplants, can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Having a substance use disorder (such as alcohol, opioid, or cocaine use disorder) can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

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