COVID-19 severity among individuals with chronic diseases
4 affiliations
- 1Dan-Petah-Tiqwa District, Clalit Health Services Community Division, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- 2Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- 3Research Unit, Dan-Petah-Tiqwa District, Clalit Health Services Community Division, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- 4Pulmonary Clinic, Dan-Petah-Tiqwa District, Clalit Health Services Community Division, Petah-Tiqwa, Israel
Abstract
Background: Previous studies reported that individuals with underlying chronic diseases who are infected with COVID-19 are at greater risk for more severe outcomes. In this study, we measured these risks among a wide range of comorbidities in a large cohort.
Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the risk for hospitalization and the severity and mortality risk of COVID-19 among adults with obstructive lung diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, kidney diseases, malignancies and immunosuppression states before the emergence of the Omicron variant. We used univariant analyses and adjusted for age, sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking habits, Socioeconomic Status (SES) and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).
Results: Of the 44,866 individuals who were positive for COVID-19, 2358 were hospitalized. The adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) for hospitalization was significantly greater for most chronic diseases, with the highest risk for individuals who underwent a kidney transplant (15.06; 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI 7.86–28.73]). A significantly greater risk for severe COVID-19 than for mild to moderate disease (602 and 1657 patients, respectively) was found for patients with cerebrovascular diseases (aOR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.07–1.99). A greater mortality risk was demonstrated for individuals who had undergone kidney transplantation (aOR = 4.23; 95% CI 1.36–11.82) and those with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) (aOR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.02–1.99).
Conclusions: Individuals with cerebrovascular disease were at increased risk for severe COVID-19, whereas individuals with CKD and past kidney transplantation were at increased mortality risk. These individuals should receive early medical intervention when they are diagnosed.
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BibTeX
@article{reichenberg2026covid19,
title = {{COVID-19 severity among individuals with chronic diseases}},
author = {Yael Reichenberg and Lior Hasson and Michal Leibovich and Bernice Oberman and Tamar Strahl and Dekel Shlomi},
journal = {Clinics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.101218},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.101218},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - COVID-19 severity among individuals with chronic diseases
AU - Yael Reichenberg
AU - Lior Hasson
AU - Michal Leibovich
AU - Bernice Oberman
AU - Tamar Strahl
AU - Dekel Shlomi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Clinics
DO - 10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.101218
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.101218
AB - Background: Previous studies reported that individuals with underlying chronic diseases who are infected with COVID-19 are at greater risk for more severe outcomes. In this study, we measured these risks among a wide range of comorbidities in a large cohort. Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the risk for hospitalization and the severity and mortality risk of COVID-19 among adults with obstructive lung diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, kidney diseases, malignancies and immunosuppression states before the emergence of the Omicron variant. We used univariant analyses and adjusted for age, sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking habits, Socioeconomic Status (SES) and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Results: Of the 44,866 individuals who were positive for COVID-19, 2358 were hospitalized. The adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) for hospitalization was significantly greater for most chronic diseases, with the highest risk for individuals who underwent a kidney transplant (15.06; 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI 7.86–28.73]). A significantly greater risk for severe COVID-19 than for mild to moderate disease (602 and 1657 patients, respectively) was found for patients with cerebrovascular diseases (aOR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.07–1.99). A greater mortality risk was demonstrated for individuals who had undergone kidney transplantation (aOR = 4.23; 95% CI 1.36–11.82) and those with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) (aOR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.02–1.99). Conclusions: Individuals with cerebrovascular disease were at increased risk for severe COVID-19, whereas individuals with CKD and past kidney transplantation were at increased mortality risk. These individuals should receive early medical intervention when they are diagnosed.
SN - 1807-5932
SN - 1980-5322
ER -