02/24/2022

CDC updates conditions linked to higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes

On February 15, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) updated the Underlying Medical Conditions Associated with Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19: Information for Healthcare Professionals list. The list provides an evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals caring for patients with underlying medical conditions who are at higher risk of developing severe outcomes of COVID-19. Severe outcomes of COVID-19 are defined as hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), intubation or mechanical ventilation, or death. The list of risk conditions is intended to help healthcare professionals make informed decisions about patient care and increasing the awareness of risk among their patients.

CDC provides additional actions and information for healthcare professionals including:

• Approved and authorized COVID-19 vaccines (primary series and booster) are safe and effective. Check out Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines and Stay Up to Date with your Vaccines.
• Check out additional information for your patients, including a link to Ohio’s state and local health department’s website on eligibility for and locations for COVID-19 vaccination.
• Encourage patients to keep appointments for routine care and adhere to treatment regimens.
• Consider use of telehealth in coordination with community-based organizations, family members, or other providers, when appropriate, although some patients may not have knowledge of or access to appropriate technology or internet service.
• Encourage patients with underlying medical conditions, who are able to, to continue practicing preventive measures, such as wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing, and to avoid infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. This becomes even more important with increasing age and number and severity of underlying conditions.
• Carefully consider potential additional risks of COVID-19 illness for patients who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and how to facilitate access to culturally and linguistically appropriate resources. These patients are often younger when they develop chronic medical conditions, might be at higher risk of having more than one underlying medical condition, and are at higher risk for acquisition of COVID-19. Studies have shown that people in ethnic and racial minority groups are dying from COVID-19 at younger ages.