Health department data shows about one in four Utahns diagnosed with COVID-19 also has diabetes. Photo: Getty Images
SALT LAKE CITY — New numbers from Utah Department of Health show nearly one in every four people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Utah also has diabetes. It’s one of the diseases known to increase the risk of severity for people who contract the virus.
The data, analyzed by the Deseret News, shows 23% of people hospitalized have diabetes, 18% have some kind of heart conditions, and 14% are former smokers.
Health workers have learned the medical history of most but not all of those who’ve been hospitalized.
The data follows national trends. It shows although all people have an equal chance of catching COVID-19, the risk is far greater for those who have underlying conditions.
As of Sunday, 6,251 Utahns had tested positive for COVID-19, with another 512 hospitalized. But most have now been released. The state estimates 3,033 of those who tested positive are considered “recovered.”
COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention