Prognosis
Prior Pneumonia Cases May Pose Unseen Covid Dangers, Harvard Study Finds
- Mortality patterns can spot risks, alert doctors, author says
- Undiagnosed chronic pneumonia seen as key to Covid risk
A healthcare worker prepares to move a patient at a Covid-19 ICU in Salinas, California, on Jan. 26.
Photographer: Nic Coury/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
An earlier case of pneumonia appears to be a surprisingly strong indicator of whether someone infected with Covid-19 faces a higher risk of severe disease and death, Harvard University researchers said.
A prior episode of pneumonia was the second-greatest overall risk factor for death from Covid-19, according to a study of medical records from almost 17,000 patients. The top predictor of risk is age, with the risk increasing as people get older.