A new study reveals the importance of seeking medical care at the first signs of possible COVID-19 infection, especially if you have underlying health issues.
Data gathered from the health records of 5,700 patients in New York City who were hospitalized with COVID-19, revealed that 53% suffered from hypertension, 42 % were obese and 32% had diabetes.
The study also showed that a whopping 88% of patients put on ventilators died, according to Fox News.
The information came from data collected from March to early April within the Northwell Health system, which housed most of the patients in the country during the pandemic. The median age of patients was 63 years old, and 94% of them had at least one comorbidity, meaning that they had at least one other disease in addition to COVID-19, according to Time.
“Having serious comorbidities increases your risk,” said Karina Davidson, a study author and senior vice president for the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research.
“This is a very serious disease with a very poor outcome for those who have severe infections from it,” Davidson told Time. “We want patients with serious chronic disease to take special precaution and seek medical attention early, should they start showing signs and symptoms of being infected. That includes knowing that they’ve been exposed to someone who has the virus.”
Lynn C. Allison ✉
Lynn C. Allison, a Newsmax health reporter, is an award-winning medical journalist and author of more than 30 self-help books.
© 2025 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.