Summary
In recent months, the global threat of Covid-19 has become widely recognized by the scientific community and the general public. As a danger to the health and well-being of many individuals, Covid has a variety of influences on the human body. When someone has two or more disease processes they’re dealing with concurrently, that is referred to as a co-morbidity. The coronavirus, itself, is harmful, but when you add a co-morbidity on top of this virus, it can become deadly. People who have a co-morbidity such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), chronic kidney disease, AIDS, cancer, and several others should consider themselves high-risk for getting the disease. These people should follow the guidelines and safety precautions during this pandemic and social distance. During this pandemic, multiple organizations have researched Covid-19 and the problems that come along with it. Covid-19 is the biggest public health crisis since the flu of 1918. Because people with co-morbidities are especially susceptible to a fatal outcome if being infected with Covid-19, it is important to understand how and why. This paper will explore the effects Covid-19 has on people with co-morbidities.
Overview of Covid-19
Covid-19, an infectious disease recently spread throughout the world presents a great danger to society and its people. Originating in some species of animals, the disease has spread from China to the rest of the world, effectively staggering the world economy and the basic functionality of many individual cities (Hamed). The effects of the Covid-19 infection can manifest differently, depending on the health of the patient, their age, previous conditions, and many other factors. While some suffer only mild symptoms, others can be put at risk of death. Being more transmissible than seasonal influenza, the coronavirus currently has no effective vaccines or treatment methods. Currently, the spread of Covid-19 is classified as a global pandemic, much like the similar events of the past. The influenza pandemic of the WWI period is one of them, resulting in a deadly outbreak of disease that ended the lives of up to 50 million people. Multiple instances of cholera and plague have also ravaged humanity throughout the years, threatening the population and its livelihood. In a similar vein, a Covid-19 pandemic is a devastating event that required conjoined effort from all nations of the world.
Effects on People with Other Diseases
Various other diseases or circumstances can worsen the person’s wellbeing when suffering from Covid-19. Particular underlying medical conditions are especially prominent in this discussion, and present an increased risk of being hospitalized, subject to mechanical ventilation, or dying (Hamed). COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, for example, is known to increase one’s chances of being severely affected by Covid-19 (Certain Medical Conditions and Risk for Severe COVID-19 Illness). Since their symptoms tend to be much more severe, the rates for healthcare utilization, and, by extension, medical expenses are higher than in regular Covid-19 patients (Attaway). Almost half of the individuals who had Covid-19 and were hospitalized or admitted to the ICU are noted to have also been COPD patients (Attaway). Those suffering from COPD are also more likely to die in the intensive care than the general public (Ejaz). Chronic Kidney Disease, similarly, makes a person more endangered when contacting the Coronavirus, leading to harsher symptoms and a longer recovery period. Such factors as various stages of obesity, smoking habits, and the state of one’s immune system also contribute to the severity of illness from Covid-19 (Certain Medical Conditions and Risk for Severe COVID-19 Illness). More than 65% percent of obese people contracting Covid-19 require ventilation in a critical situation, which signifies the direness of a patient’s condition (Ejaz).
Death Statistics
Understanding the fatality rates of Covid-19 is both especially important and difficult, as the disease actively changes in influence over time and varies by country. Multiple confounding variables need to be considered, including the severity of cases, the number of diagnosed individuals, as well as each country’s efforts to prevent the spread of the disease. Since many of these points are not static, currently estimating the overall death rate of the disease is impossible, and it largely varies by the time period and area (Ritchie). During the beginning of the outbreak, the CFR (case fatality rate) in China has peaked, with more than a 17% chance of dying from Covid-19 (Ritchie). The statistics have shifted downwards significantly since then, in large part due to the joined containment efforts by the global governments. While the issue still persists, many nations are allocating their influence and resources towards competently addressing the problem to safeguard their population. It is crucial to note, however, that pre-existing conditions and co-morbidities can alter the chances of an individual’s survival, significantly altering their chances of successful recovery. A study that reviewed and analyzed the available data on the subject found that people suffering from COPD and active smokers have a higher mortality rate than regular Covid-19 patients. Taking the crude mortality rate of 7.4% for the coronavirus, the researchers have found that COPD patients and smokers are 60% and 38.5% more likely to die of Covid-19 respectively (Alqahtani, Jaber). The data clearly shows that a variety of underlying conditions can affect a person’s chances of staying alive after the coronavirus infection.
Safety Measures
To limit the spread of the disease, there are certain regulations and measures applicable to all members of society. All affected countries have adopted similar response policies, aimer primarily at limiting the number of new cases and protecting the citizenry. People are generally advised to avoid crowded and public spaces, practicing self-isolation and distancing is especially important to stop the spread of disease. When human contact is inevitable, wearing masks, or higher-grade protective equipment is necessary, with the most attention to covering one’s respiratory systems. Often disinfecting the home utilities, and surfaces, as well as wearing gloves is also important, as Covid-19 can linger on surfaces for prolonged periods of time. Overall, monitoring individual health comes as a priority, to make sure that the symptoms of Covid-19 are spotted and addressed in time.
Works Cited
Alqahtani, Jaber S., et al. “Prevalence, Severity and Mortality associated with COPD and Smoking in patients with COVID-19: A Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” PLOS ONE, vol. 15, no. 5, 2020, p. e0233147.
Attaway, Amy A., et al. “SARS-CoV-2 infection in the COPD population is associated with increased healthcare utilization: An analysis of Cleveland clinic’s COVID-19 registry.” EClinicalMedicine, vol. 26, 2020, p. 100515.
Certain Medical Conditions and Risk for Severe COVID-19 Illness. Web.
Ejaz, Alsrhani, Abdullah, et. al. (2020). COVID-19 and comorbidities: Deleterious impact on infected patients. Journal of Infection and Public Health. Web.
Hamed, Manal A. “An overview on COVID-19: reality and expectation.” Bulletin of the National Research Centre, vol. 44, no. 1, 2020.
Ritchie, Hannah. Mortality Risk of COVID-19 – Statistics and Research. Web.