Cardiovascular disease and complex health issues almost double COVID-19 infection risk

The risk of COVID-19 infection is around two times higher in older adults with cardiovascular disease and complex comorbidities than in their healthier peers, according to a new study from UCL. The study, published in Gerontology, analysed data from 4,428 individuals over the age of 50 who took part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) COVID-19 Sub Study in 2020. Researchers then placed participants into four groups based on their long-term conditions. Participants were grouped into those with metabolic disorders (hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes), those with heterogeneous comorbidities (eye disease, arthritis, cancer, lung disease, osteoporosis, and psychiatric conditions), those who had cardiovascular disease alongside other complex comorbidities (hypertension, arthritis, eye disease, and hyperlipidemia ), and the "healthiest" group, who mostly only suffered from arthritis. The team found that people with both cardiovascular disease and complex comorbidities had an 87% increase in the risk of being infected with COVID-19, according to results of PCR or rapid testing, or whether they had reported experiencing symptoms during the early pandemic. Meanwhile, those with heterogeneous comorbidities had a 56% increase in the risk of COVID-19 infection. Several other pre-existing long-term conditions identified pre-pandemic, including lung diseases, arthritis and psychiatric disorders, were also found to be related to the risk of subsequent COVID-19 infection.