FOR APPROPRIATE COVID-19 PATIENTS AT HIGH RISK FOR PROGRESSION TO SEVERE ILLNESS,

INITIATE ORAL TREATMENT WITHIN 5 DAYS OF SYMPTOM ONSET

Developed by Pfizer Inc.

The progression of COVID-191,2
Early in the course of disease, patients may experience mild symptoms as SARS-CoV-2 replicates. In many patients, the immune system responds and prevents the virus from spreading. But in patients who develop severe illness, an abnormal immune response occurs, leading to respiratory and even systemic inflammation.

Example

Early Infection2,3
Pulmonary Response2,3
Hyperinflammation2,3

Example

Example
Disease severity
Early Infection2,3
Median 4-5 days
Mild symptoms, fever, dry cough, anosmia, dysgeusia
Pulmonary Response2,3
Median 5-8 days
Shortness of breath, with or without hypoxia
Hyperinflammation2,3
Median 8-12 days
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, cytokine storm, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock, cardiac failure
Viral
replication
Mild to
moderate
illness
Severe
illness
Critical
illness
Educate your high-risk patients before they get COVID-19 so they understand their:4,5,6-8
R
I
S
K
Click to explore
Risk
for severe illness
Importance
of testing quickly if they experience symptoms
Source
of testing and care
Knowing
if they are appropriate candidates for authorized or approved treatment options
Help patients recognize if they're at high risk for progression to severe COVID-193†
Three important factors to consider are
Age, Race & Ethnicity, and Vaccination Status
Studies have shown that COVID-19 does not affect all populations equally. Age is the strongest risk factor for progressing to severe COVID-19. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. This is due to multiple factors, including barriers to accessing health care.
View Risk Factors
Loading
Looking for a comprehensive list of COVID-19 symptoms?
Learn More at CDC.gov
Loading
Footnotes
†Summary of conditions with evidence based on what has been reported in the literature at the time of CDC review. Definitions for each group of medical conditions with evidence can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/​coronavirus/​2019-ncov/​hcp/clinical-care/​underlyingconditions.html
‡Complete list of disabilities from CDC's systematic review process can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/underlyingconditions.html
BMI=body mass index; COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; HIV=human immunodeficiency virus.
Underlying medical conditions associated
with higher risk for severe COVID-193
Close
Close
Higher Risk
Suggestive Higher Risk
Mixed Evidence
Asthma
Cancer
Cerebrovascular disease
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic liver diseases limited to:
 - Cirrhosis
 - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
 - Alcoholic liver disease
 - Autoimmune hepatitis
Chronic lung diseases limited to:
 - Interstitial lung disease
 - Pulmonary embolism
 - Pulmonary hypertension
 - Bronchiectasis
 - COPD
Cystic fibrosis
Diabetes mellitus, type 1 and type 2
Disabilities, including Down syndrome‡
Heart conditions
(such as heart failure, coronary artery 
disease, or cardiomyopathies)
HIV
Mental health conditions limited to:
- Mood disorders, including depression
- Schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Neurologic conditions limited to dementia
Obesity
(BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or ≥95th
percentile in children)
Physical inactivity
Pregnancy and recent pregnancy
Primary immunodeficiencies
Smoking, current and former
Solid organ or blood stem cell transplantation
Tuberculosis
Use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications
Asthma
Cancer
Cerebrovascular disease
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic liver diseases limited to:
 - Cirrhosis
 - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
 - Alcoholic liver disease
 - Autoimmune hepatitis
Chronic lung diseases limited to:
 - Interstitial lung disease
 - Pulmonary embolism
 - Pulmonary hypertension
 - Bronchiectasis
 - COPD
Cystic fibrosis
Diabetes mellitus, type 1 and type 2
Disabilities, including Down syndrome‡
Heart conditions
(such as heart failure, coronary artery 
disease, or cardiomyopathies)
HIV
Mental health conditions limited to:
- Mood disorders, including depression
- Schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Neurologic conditions limited to dementia
Obesity
(BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or ≥95th
percentile in children)
Physical inactivity
Pregnancy and recent pregnancy
Primary immunodeficiencies
Smoking, current and former
Solid organ or blood stem cell transplantation
Tuberculosis
Use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications
1
 | 
1
1
Children with certain underlying conditions
Overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2 but ≤30 kg/m2 )
Sickle cell disease
Substance use disorders
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Hepatitis B and C
Hypertension
Thalassemia
No conclusions can be drawn from the evidence.

References

References: 1. Cevik M, Kuppalli K, Kindrachuk J, Peiris M. Virology, transmission, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. BMJ. 2020;371:m3862. 2. Siddiqi HK, Mehra MR. COVID-19 illness in native and immunosuppressed states: A clinical-therapeutic staging proposal. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2020;39(5):405-407. 3. Management of patients. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published June 30, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2022. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/89980 4. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA authorizes first oral antiviral for treatment of COVID-19. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Published December 22, 2021. Accessed April 21, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-oral-antiviral-treatment-covid-19 5. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA authorizes additional oral antiviral for treatment of COVID-19 in certain adults. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Published December 23, 2021. Accessed April 21, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-additional-oral-antiviral-treatment-covid-19-certain 6. Ajufo E, Rao S, Navar AM, Pandey A, Ayers CR, Khera A. U.S. population at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Am J Prev Cardiol. 2021;6(100156):100156.7. COVID-19 information for specific groups of people. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published June 3, 2022. Accessed June 8, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/index.html#:~:text=If%20you%20or%20 your%20family,high%20COVID%2D19%20 Community%20Level 8. Test for current infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published June 1, 2022. Accessed June 8, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/diagnostic-testing.html

References
+