Covid-19 and comorbidities

A recent meta-analysis by Espinosa and colleagues, “Prevalence of Comorbidities in Patients and Mortality Cases Affected by SARS-CoV2”, found that 42% of patients with Covid-19 had comorbidities. Furthermore, 61% of those with Covid-19 admitted to the Intensive Care Unit had comorbidities, and 77% of those who died had comorbidities. Hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity (affecting 32% of patients). Other common comorbidities included diabetes (22%), heart disease (13%), and COPD (8%). In this podcast Andrew Lewington, Consultant Renal Physician and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, gives us an overview of managing patients with Covid-19 and common comorbidities. For more on Covid-19 and comorbidities, see BMJ Best Practice: bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201/treatment-algorithm Read the meta analysis: Espinosa OA, Zanetti ADS, Antunes EF, Longhi FG, Matos TA, Battaglini PF. Prevalence of comorbidities in patients and mortality cases affected by SARS-CoV2: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2020;62:e43. Published 2020 Jun 22. doi:10.1590/S1678-9946202062043