According to the CDC, staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination and following preventative measures are especially important if you are 65 or older or have one or more health conditions or risk factors. People with one or more of the underlying conditions or risk factors listed are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 and be hospitalized, need intensive care, require a ventilator to breathe, and/or die. The risk of severe illness from COVID-19 increases as the number of medical conditions or risk factors you have increases. Underlying conditions or risk factors include:

• Asthma
• Cancer
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Chronic kidney disease including people receiving dialysis
• Chronic liver disease including cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcohol-related liver disease, and autoimmune hepatitis
• Chronic lung diseases including bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary hypertension
• Cystic fibrosis
• Dementia or Parkinson's disease
• Diabetes (type 1, type 2, or gestational)
• Disabilities including Down syndrome
• Heart conditions including heart failure, coronary artery disease, and cardiomyopathies
• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
• Immunocompromised condition or weakened immune system
• Mental health conditions including depression and schizophrenia spectrum disorders
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Pregnancy or recent pregnancy
• Smoking, current or former
• Solid-organ or blood stem-cell transplantation
• Tuberculosis
• Use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications

The list above does not include all possible conditions that put you at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Rare medical conditions, including many conditions that mostly affect children, may not be included. The conditions on this list are in alphabetical order. They are not in order of risk.

Understanding your increased risk of experiencing severe outcomes of COVID-19 can assist you in making decisions about how to help protect yourself and those you take care of. Take this list with you to review with your doctor at your next appointment. Some people are at increased risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19 because of where they live or work, or because they can’t get health care. This includes many people from racial and ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about a condition not included on this list or questions about your risk.

Visit CDC.gov to learn more.