Adults Under Age 45 With Chronic Diseases & COVID-19 Three Times More Likely To Have Severe Infection Than Other Adults With COVID-19

People under age 45 diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were three times more likely to have a severe infection that resulted in hospitalization or death if they had pre-existing cancer; heart disease; or blood, neurologic or endocrine disorders. The association between these chronic diseases and severe COVID-19 was weaker or absent in older age groups.

Of 9,928 people in a 27-county region in the Midwest who tested positive for COVID-19, 4.8% (474 people) had severe COVID-19. Of those who tested positive, 6,826 were under age 45. Within that age group . . .