First, don’t panic. If you live in the United States, it’s much more likely that you have a cold, flu, or other viral infection. Second, even if you have COVID-19, things may not be as severe as you fear.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 80% of people recover from COVID-19 without needing special treatment. But that doesn’t mean there’s no danger—especially if you’re in a high-risk group.
High-Risk Group
Those with healthy immune systems often recover from COVID-19 within weeks—and they may only experience mild symptoms. However, COVID-19 is not indiscriminate. And some people are at a greater risk of needing intensive care than others.
Preliminary research suggests that higher-risk groups include:
Those with underlying illnesses. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) studied more than 44,000 COVID-19 cases. Researchers found that patients with one additional disease (such as cancer, diabetes, or hepatitis B), had a 79% greater chance of needing intensive care.
Males. In that same CCDC study, men diagnosed with COVID-19 had a higher mortality rate (2.8%) compared with women (1.7%). As we review those numbers, it’s worth noting that the data may be skewed due to higher smoking rates among men in China as compared to women.
Older adults past middle age. The CCDC also found that the older someone is, the higher the COVID-19 mortality rate becomes.
The following chart breaks down those numbers:
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