'High Risk Person'

[EggysMom]

Sorry to start another thread but my post in the 'Worries' thread has got buried.

Can somebody please direct me to a sound/reputable source for who would be classed as a high risk person, presumably those immuno-compromised but with a clear description of what that means?

OP I have searched and searched online and agreed that there doesn't seem to be an official definition from the NHS. Sorry - not helpful! On the plus side your employer would find difficult to argue that you're not high risk without a definition..

Are you offered a free flu jab on the NHS? That would seem to be a good indicator.

BritWifeinUSA, I don't necessarily agree with you. A lot of people have high blood pressure and I don't think they would have considered themselves in high risk group for those illness but they are .

DEATH Rate confirmed cases is first %
DEATH Rate all cases 2nd %
Cardiovascular disease
13.2%
10.5%
Diabetes
9.2%
7.3%
Chronic respiratory disease
8.0%
6.3%
Hypertension
8.4%
6.0%
Cancer
7.6%
5.6%
no pre-existing conditions
0.9%

Op, I get it why you think I said dramatic and silly is a joke. It isn't really. But people really need to use their common sense. It's no point scaring people who would never likely to have it .
Why do you need to determine the subset of populations who are more vulnerable, unless you work for the government. And if you did, you wouldn't be posting on MN.

I'd say use that as basis of the most at risk groups.

As well as CDC, you can also look at ECDC - see question 2.

Again, thank you to those who have posted links / sources as I have asked. As Designerenvy said, those with hypertension wouldn't normally class themselves as high risk for flu complications; but the various websites linked would suggest that hypertension is a high risk for Covid-19 complications.

To those who asked, yes I am generally offered a flu jab by the NHS; and our disabled son is offered twice - through school but also through the GP. DH has recently been diagnosed with hypertension. So I would class myself as 'high risk'. I'm just not convinced my employer would agree.

I wouldn't agree either. Both my parents suffer from hypertension, and taking drugs since early 40s. As a child, I have that too. I just don't think there are any connection between hypertension and being more vulnerable from CV, unless there are other risk factors.

So if it’s anyone who is at higher risk from complications of flu normally then that puts pregnant people in the high risk category too

stormy although people who take medication often feel fine, the reality is changes have already happened to their (in this case) cardio vascular system. with high blood pressure the blood vessels are not as elastic and don't function as they should without the added help of drugs. so i can see how when under physical stress they are more at risk of not responding well. often times it's the kidneys that fail.

I actually think it's an interesting question. My son has cancer, he is currently in hospital going through chemotherapy. He is clearly high risk, but is someone with a respiratory illness higher risk? When he comes out of hospital next week he will be living with my husband and I so we have to be careful about not catching any viruses ourselves, partly because we don't want to pass anything on to our son, and partly because he needs us to care for him.

So far the advice for us is limited other than avoiding crowded places and being careful with hand hygiene.

Possibly because this is quite new they have not had time / sufficient information to collate on all the different risk groups a[art form the main more common ones like heart disease for example?

People who are the most high risk are neutropenic, and should have been alerted to the risks to them posed by Covid-19, by their consultants, and a plan made.

The person in my family at extremely high risk was advised to self isolate within the home, with medical services visiting as necessary, as soon as there were cases in our county. We were duly alerted that a case had been diagnosed locally yesterday - a few hours before the dept of health daily update which confirmed it. So the individual will no longer go about their daily life and the rest of us will be extremely cautious about ours.

That individual already has their temp taken several times a day, as at high risk for every infectious disease. As soon as there are covid-19 cases in our local hospital, rather than taking them in immediately if their temperature spikes (or any other sign of infection) they will be visited at home for investigations of what the infection is (so if it’s not Covid-19 they won’t be exposed to it in the hospital.) Obviously they may have to travel there for some treatments or certain tests, but that will be carefully arranged with admission straight to a private room.

(Being vague over age and medical condition for privacy reasons.)

Wow Somerville that is some level of care

The family members I know who would be in the highest risk category haven’t had anything like this.
(Cancer, immunosuppressive drugs, copd, diabetes, heart disease etc)

I’m mid 30s and have reduced lung function so would consider myself high risk even though I haven’t seen my condition written on any “high risk” list.