June 16, 2020
Hospitalizations were six times higher and deaths 12 times higher among those with reported underlying conditions compared with those with none reported, according to a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report issued Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Surveillance data reported to the CDC through April 2020 indicated that COVID-19 leads to severe outcomes in older adults and those with underlying health conditions. As of May 30, 2020, among COVID-19 cases, the most common underlying health conditions were cardiovascular disease (32%), diabetes (30%), and chronic lung disease (18%).
The CDC says surveillance at all levels of government, and its continued modernization, is critical for monitoring COVID-19 trends and identifying groups at risk for infection and severe outcomes. These findings highlight the continued need for community mitigation strategies, especially for vulnerable populations, to slow COVID-19 transmission.