Updated Aug. 1, 2023
Who is at Risk?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), everyone is at risk for getting COVID-19 if exposed to the virus, although some people are more likely to become severely ill or die. People at increased risk for severe illness are older adults, pregnant people, and those with certain underlying medical conditions.
Severe illness means that a person may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die.
Older Adults
Older adults are at the highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19. As people get older, their risk for severe illness and hospitalization increases. Underlying medical conditions can increase this risk (see below). The best way for older adults to decrease their risk of getting COVID-19 is by getting vaccinated and taking precautions to prevent getting COVID-19.
Learn more about precautions older adults should consider to protect themselves from COVID-19.
Pregnant People
According to the CDC, the overall risk of severe illness is low, but compared to non-pregnant people, pregnant people are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Contributing risk factors include having underlying medical conditions as well as the pregnant person’s age or occupation.
For example, if a pregnant person is not able to physically distance from people who may be sick in a work setting, they are at increased risk. Pregnant people with COVID-19 might also be at increased risk for other poor outcomes like preterm birth (delivering before 37 weeks).
Visit the CDC website for tips on how to stay healthy and prevent COVID-19 infection during your pregnancy.
If you are pregnant or were recently pregnant, you can get the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have questions about getting vaccinated, consider speaking with your healthcare provider. You can also contact MotherToBaby at 1.866.626.6847 or visit the MotherToBaby website.
People with Certain Underlying Medical Conditions
According to the CDC, adults of any age with the following conditions may be more likely to become severely ill from COVID-19:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic lung diseases, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension
- Dementia or other neurological conditions
- Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
- People with disabilities, including any disability that makes it more difficult to do certain activities or interact with the world around them, and people with ADHD, Cerebral palsy, birth defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, spinal cord injuries, or Down syndrome
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies or hypertension
- HIV infection
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system), which can have many causes including inherited traits or prolonged use of corticosteroids or other immune weakening medicines that can result in immunodeficiency
- Mental health conditions, including mood disorders like depression and schizophrenia spectrum disorders can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19
- Overweight and obesity; overweight defined as body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2 but <30 kg/m2), obesity defined as BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2, and severe obesity defined as BMI of ≥ 40 kg/m2
- Physical inactivity; doing little to no physical activity can make people more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 than those who are physically active
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
- Smoking, currently or previously
- Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
- Stroke or cerebrovascular disease, which affects blood flow to the brain
- Substance use disorders
- Tuberculosis
For more information about these medical conditions and COVID-19, please visit the CDC website.
*This list is alphabetized and not listed in order of risk.
Children have been less affected by COVID-19 than adults, but they can be infected by the virus that causes COVID-19 and some may develop severe illness. Children with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to other children without underlying medical conditions. CDC indicates that children with the following conditions may be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19: medical complexity; genetic, neurologic, metabolic conditions; or congenital heart disease. In addition, children with obesity, diabetes, asthma or chronic lung disease, sickle cell disease, or immunosuppression can also be at increased risk for sever illness from COVID-19.
Other At-Risk Populations
In addition to the groups listed above, the CDC emphasizes that people with disabilities and those from certain racial and ethnic minority groups might be more likely to get very sick and have adverse health outcomes from COVID-19 because of factors stemming from societal inequities. Learn more.
Content adapted from CDC materials.