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Risk factors for severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients: A review

Ya-Dong Gao1, Mei Ding1,2, Xiang Dong1

  • 1Department of Allergology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

Allergy
|November 13, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This review highlights risk factors for severe COVID-19, including age, comorbidities, and immune status. Understanding these factors is crucial for managing the pandemic and improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has had a profound global impact.
  • Identifying risk factors for severe disease is critical for patient management and public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize scientific evidence on risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity.
  • To consolidate knowledge on demographic, clinical, laboratory, and socioeconomic factors influencing COVID-19 outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific evidence on COVID-19 severity risk factors.
  • Analysis of identified risk factors including age, comorbidities, immune status, and laboratory markers.
  • Consideration of environmental and lifestyle influences on disease progression.

Main Results:

  • Key risk factors include advanced age, male gender, and comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, chronic lung, heart, liver, kidney diseases, tumors).
  • Immunological factors like impaired interferon response, lymphopenia, and eosinopenia are indicators.
  • Laboratory markers (LDH, procalcitonin, hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-1β, KL-6, ferritin) and cytokine storm are associated with severe disease.
  • Socioeconomic status, diet, lifestyle, ethnicity, viral load, and healthcare quality also impact outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple factors contribute to COVID-19 severity, ranging from individual health status to external influences.
  • A comprehensive understanding of these risk factors is essential for developing targeted interventions and improving clinical care.
  • Further research into the interplay of these factors can refine prognostic models and treatment strategies.

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2critical illnessrisk factorsseverity

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