New data released by the CDC shined a light on how much people with comorbidities are at risk of contracting serious cases of COVID-19.
Butler Health System’s top infectious disease specialist Dr. John Love lists what comorbodities are common.
“The things on the comorbidities list are basically the ‘who’s who’ of American medical problems,” Love explained. “Hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, renal disease, underlying lung diseases like COPD or emphysema.”
Also Love says that the recent report from the CDC was misinterpreted by some. It said only six percent of COVID deaths were because of just COVID-19. He says it’s quite common for multiple causes to be listed on a death certificate.
“Every death certificate has multiple lines for both the imminent, or immediate cause of death, as well as things that may have contributed to the patient’s death.”
Love also says that comorbidities are much more common than people think.
“People want to jump on these numbers and understandably want to feel some reassurance that only really sick people die from this, so therefore we don’t have to worry about [Covid],” Love said. “And I think that downplays the number of Americans that live with these chronic conditions that put them at risk for death or at least really prolonged hospitalizations.”