The mercurial nature and erratic behavior of the coronavirus have been evident since the outbreak. While some people experience mild symptoms, such as a cold, or no symptoms at all, others may become seriously ill and eventually die from COVID-19.
It is difficult to know what factors will determine your fate. Researchers are looking at a wide variety of factors that may play a role — everything from demographics to preexisting conditions to vaccination status and even genetic clues.
Researchers have found that the risk of developing severe complications is higher in older people. People who are not vaccinated have a higher risk of being hospitalized and even dying than those who have received their COVID shots.
Age 50 and over was the last time an unvaccinated person was vaccinated Twelve times more likely to dieAccording to August data from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 refers to people who have had two or more booster shots. On August 28, there were 5.46 fatalities per 100,000 among those who had not been vaccinated, compared to 0.49 for those who received two or more booster shots.
Even among vaxxers, every shot counts. People 50 years and older who received their first two shots with only one booster in the same month were almost three times more likely to die (1.27 deaths for every 100,000).
Pre-existing health issues
There are many ways to make your life easier. Conditions affecting healthThere are many factors that increase the chance of COVID-19 being fatal, such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic or obstructivepulmonary disease (COPD), and obesity. However, there are some types of COVID-19. Asthma can be prevented For the prevention of the diseaseSN: 5/2/22).
COVID-19 is most dangerous to patients with cancer. Even though cancer patients are the most vulnerable, not all people are equally at risk.
Immunosuppressed patients with cancer may be able to receive treatment., either because of problems with their immune systems or because they are taking immune-dampening drugs, are more likely to get severe COVID-19, die or develop cytokine storm — a whirlwind of immune chemicals that can set off tissue- and organ-damaging inflammation, researchers report November 3 in JAMA Oncology. This was true even for people with immunosuppression who were receiving immunotherapy for their cancer. It was more severe than for people who had received other chemotherapies.
That means cancer patients with weakened immune systems “should be very careful and adopt strict measures to prevent them from catching COVID-19,” says study coauthor Chris Labaki, a cancer researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
“Wear masks as much as possible, clean everything, including washing your hands. Maybe don’t go to crowded public places where the chance of catching COVID-19 might be higher.” People who have cancer patients in their lives may also want to take more care to avoid the coronavirus, he says.
Genetic clues
However, COVID-19 can also affect young people who are otherwise healthy. It’s hard to predict who might succumb, but researchers are searching for genetic clues.
Some studies found that certain versions ofCOVID-19 might be protected by genes inherited from NeandertalsWhile other genetic heirlooms passed on from Neandertals may be able to be used,Increased risk for severe disease (SN: 2/17/21; SN: 10/2/20).
A massive international study examining DNA from more than 28,000 COVID-19 patients and almost 600,000 people who hadn’t been infected (to the best of their knowledge) confirmed that inheritance from Neandertals is involved in COVID-19 susceptibility.
A previous finding was also confirmed by the study. People with type O blood might have some protection from getting infectedCoronavirus (SN: 7/8/21). We don’t know what causes this protection.
Rare variants of a gene known as toll-like receptor 7 are people who have a rare version. TLR7They are 5.3 times more likely than others to develop severe COVID-19 than those who don’t have the variants, the team also reported November 3 in PLOS Genetics. The biological link makes sense. TLR7’s protein is involved in signaling the immune system that a virus has invaded. Its duties include Interferons can be maskedImmune system chemicals are among the first to respond to viral infections.SN: 8/6/20). Interferons are used to warn cells and kill infected cells by increasing their antiviral defenses.
A gene called TYK2is responsible for the production of some interferons. However, genetic variants in this gene may increase the risk of developing Lupus.Protect yourself against infection by coronavirusResearchers also reported in a separate study published November 3, 2012. PLOS Genetics. Although it may be possible to fight the coronavirus by boosting interferons, if there isn’t a virus to combat, the immune systems may cause damage, such as lupus and other autoimmune diseases. These are examples Genetic trade-offsThey are quite common (SN: 10/19/22).
Numerous large-scale studies have confirmed that there is evidence linking many other genes with COVID-19 results. These findings could indicate that drugs may be available to treat the disease better.
Individual risk
But the problem with all of these studies is that they can’t tell any individual what their chances are of a bad outcome from catching COVID-19. 23andMe, a DNA testing company, tells me that I am less than 2 percent Neandertal genetic DNA (SN: 5/22/18). I don’t know whether that includes the variants that would make me more susceptible to severe disease or the ones that protect against infection. What if I had both? What happens if I have both?
You must also consider your age, health, and environment. Let’s face it, that last one is probably the most important. For instance, if you have a job that exposes you to multiple people, you’re at higher risk of getting COVID-19 than someone who works from home.
There’s nothing you can do about the genetic hand you’re dealt (at least not until gene editing is perfected). Experts I spoke to agree that indoor air quality in public buildings must be improved to prevent infection. That’s also out of most people’s hands. You can still reduce your chance of getting cancer. Labaki’s advice to cancer patients — mask, avoid crowds, wash your hands — plus staying up-to-date on vaccinations is good for everyone.
