Comorbid disease is a term that often appears when discussing COVID-19. People with comorbid illnesses are said to be more at risk of suffering from severe symptoms if infected with the Corona virus.
Comorbidity is a condition in which a person suffers from two or more diseases at the same time. The disease is generally chronic or chronic.
The combination of comorbid illnesses can vary, such as physical illness, mental disorders, or a combination of both. For example, people with diabetes may suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension), or people with cancer may suffer from depression at the same time.
People who suffer from comorbid diseases are more at risk of experiencing increased health care costs, experiencing obstacles in the healing process, and experiencing fatal conditions.
Comorbid Diseases and Their Relation to COVID-19
Patients with comorbid diseases are one of the groups that are vulnerable to being infected with the Corona virus. If they are infected with the Corona virus, they have a higher risk of experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms, requiring intensive care, and even a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 and its complications.
This can happen because people with comorbid diseases have weaker immune systems than people without comorbid diseases. In addition, patients with comorbid diseases may also have experienced complications or organ damage due to the disease they have suffered so far.
Therefore, the body of people with comorbid diseases will find it more difficult to fight Corona virus infection.
There are many diseases that can cause comorbidity in COVID-19 patients, namely:
- Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and heart disease
- Kidney disease, such as acute or chronic kidney failure
- Chronic lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD
- Liver disease, such as hepatitis or liver cancer
- Dementia
- Immune disorders, for example due to malnutrition or HIV
- Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
In addition, people with several other conditions, such as pregnant women, heavy smokers, obese people, or people who have had organ transplants, also have the potential to suffer from COVID-19 with severe symptoms.
In COVID-19 patients who have the above comorbid conditions or diseases, stricter handling and monitoring is needed from doctors.
In addition to providing COVID-19 treatment and care, doctors also need to treat patients' comorbid illnesses, so that patients are not at risk of developing dangerous COVID-19 complications, such as respiratory failure and cytokine storms.
COVID-19 Vaccination for People with Comorbid Diseases
Given that people with comorbid diseases are one of the groups most vulnerable to being infected with COVID-19, they need to be more vigilant in taking steps to prevent COVID-19. One way is to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Currently, the COVID-19 vaccine can be given to people with comorbid diseases, even if it is considered safe and useful, as long as the disease has been controlled with treatment from a doctor.
The COVID-19 vaccination for patients with comorbid diseases is carried out to prevent the appearance of severe symptoms and fatal conditions due to Corona virus infection.
Nevertheless, the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine must be carried out carefully and through careful medical considerations in order to prevent and minimize the occurrence of side effects that can endanger the patient's condition.
However, some data so far show that administering the COVID-19 vaccine to patients with comorbid diseases is quite safe, as long as the disease is controlled.
In addition to vaccination, patients with comorbid diseases also need to routinely and disciplinedly comply with applicable health protocols, namely by washing hands regularly, using masks, and avoiding crowds, to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
If you still have questions about comorbid diseases and their relation to COVID-19, you can consult a doctor. you can too chat with the doctor at the service telemedicine, such as the ALODOKTER application.