COVID-19 poses a "greater than threefold increased risk of severe infection" for the younger population with cancer, heart disease, and other disorders, according to researchers of a new published study.
According to Mayo Clinic researchers, those who are younger than 45 "had a greater than threefold increased risk of severe infection if they had cancer or heart disease, or blood, neurologic or endocrine disorders."
In comparison, the associations were described as "weaker" by the researchers in older age groups.
"We could look back in their medical records to better understand all of the chronic diseases this population had even before getting diagnosed with COVID-19 and how those diseases might have contributed to more severe infections," according to epidemiologist and the study's first author, Jennifer St. Sauver, Ph.D.
COVID-19 Poses Greater Risk for Younger Population With Cancer, Heart Disease
The COVID-19 study involved examining 9,895 cases of infections. Participants who were part of the study all come from the 27-county region of Southeast Minnesota and West Central Wisconsin who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between March and September of last year.
According to the researchers, cancer emerged as one of the strongest COVID risk factors for the younger population. It is not the case for the older population.
Those with neurologic disorders such as developmental disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia and other psychoses also had the "highest adjusted risk for severe COVID-19" based on the study.
Related Article: Long COVID Syndrome: Risk Factors, Treatment and How to Manage It Based on Study
Study Shows Some Races, Ethnicities at Higher Risk
Results of the study done by Mayo Clinic researchers have also shown that some races and ethnicities have higher risk of being infected with COVID-19.
According to the study, Asian Americans have the highest risk when it comes to severe COVID. Asian Americans comprised only 4.1% of the study population.
African Americans, who comprised 11.5% of the study population, came in second.
Delta Variant Responsible for More Than 80% of US Cases: Fauci
The findings of the Mayo Clinic study comes just as Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the Senate that the Delta variant of COVID-19 has caused more than 80% of the current cases in the U.S.
Fauci, however, insisted that the approved vaccines in the country remain "more than 90% effective in preventing hospitalization and deaths," according to Reuters. COVID-19 deaths have averaged at 239 deaths daily in the past week.
According to Fauci, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is in the midst of reviewing data from vaccinated groups to study how long the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines lasts. The data gathered will be used to determine if COVID-19 booster shots are necessary.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Isabella James
