Disease puts 1 found in 5 globally at serious COVID-19 risk: Study
16 June, 2020
Around 1.7 billion people - a lot more than 20 per cent of the world's people - risk becoming severely infected with COVID-19 because of underlying health challenges such as obesity and cardiovascular disease, analysis confirmed Tuesday (Jun 16).
The novel coronavirus, which includes killed a lot more than 420,000 persons globally through the first wave of the pandemic, adversely effects patients suffering from co-morbidities.
A team of experts from the London University of Hygiene and Tropical Medication analysed global data sets of illnesses including diabetes, lung disease and HIV used these to estimate how many people are at heightened threat of serious COVID-19 infection.
They found that one in five persons have at least one underlying medical condition putting them in greater threat.
While not all those would get on to develop extreme symptoms if infected, the experts said around 4 per cent of the global people - around 350 million - would likely get sick plenty of to require medical therapy.
"As countries re-locate of lockdown, governments are seeking methods to protect the most vulnerable from a virus that's even now circulating," said Andrew Clark, who contributed to the analysis.
"This may involve advising people with underlying circumstances to look at social distancing measures appropriate to their level of risk."
Clark said the results could help governments get decisions on who also receives a COVID-19 vaccine first when one becomes available.
In keeping with other studies about COVID risk, the authors found that older persons are in greater danger of getting seriously unwell from the virus.
Less than 5 % of people aged under 20 have an underlying risk component, compared with two thirds of over 70s.
Countries with younger populations experience fewer persons with at least one underlying condition, but risks vary globally, based on the analysis.
Tiny island states such as for example Fiji and Mauritius possess among the highest rates of diabetes - a known COVID-19 risk factor - on the planet, for example.
And countries with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS, such as for example eSwatini and Lesotho, also have to be vigilant, said authors of the study published on The Lancet.
In Europe, a lot more than 30 per cent of men and women have a number of health issues, it showed.
Writing in a linked comment, Nina Schwalbe from Columbia University Mailman Class of Public Health, stated the analysis showed "it's time to evolve out of a one-size-fits-all method of one which centres on those many at risk."
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