The 27 states with the biggest populations at risk of developing a serious coronavirus illness

Although the novel coronavirus can cause illness in people of all different ages and health conditions, some populations are more vulnerable to developing extremely serious symptoms than others, including people over 65 years old and adults with certain pre-existing health conditions.

The non-profit health research Kaiser Family Foundation examined which states have the highest share of adults age 18 and over who are at risk of a serious illness if infected by the coronavirus.

According to a recent CDC study, the most at-risk groups for developing a serious illness include people over 65, as well as adults age 18 to 64 with heart disease, uncontrolled asthma, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung disease, or a BMI over 40.

KFF used 2018 CDC data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to find the share of each state's population most at risk based on those conditions.

According to KFF, 37.6% of US adults 92.6 million Americans have a heightened chance of developing a serious illness from coronavirus. Of those nearly 93 million Americans, 51.1 million are adults age 65 and over.

At the state level, West Virginia had the highest share of adults at risk of a serious illness after being infected with coronavirus, with a share of 49.3% or nearly 690,000 adults, according to the study.

According to KFF's analysis, the high-risk population shares of 27 states are greater than the national share. Many of these states are in the South. For instance, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi all had shares over 40%.

Read on to see the 27 states that have the largest shares of adults that are most vulnerable to developing a serious coronavirus illness based on KFF's analysis. We also included each state's share of at-risk adults from the over-65 and under-65 year old populations.

27. Kansas: 38.0% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 21.7%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 54.7%

26. Rhode Island: 38.3% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 21.4%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 56.1%

24 (tie). North Carolina: 39.0% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 22.7%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 54.2%

24 (tie). Montana: 39.0% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 19.4%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 62.3%

21 (tie). Vermont: 39.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 19.6%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 62.1%

21(tie). Hawaii: 39.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Laszlo Podor/Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 19.4%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 62.5%

21 (tie). Arizona: 39.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Rubino/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 20.8%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 59.1%

20. New Mexico: 39.4% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 21.1%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 58.8%

17 (tie). Pennsylvania: 39.8% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

WilliamSherman/Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 21.8%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 57.8%

17 (tie). Oregon: 39.8% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 22.5%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 56.2%

17 (tie). Ohio: 39.8% of adults adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

aceshot1/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 22.9%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 54.9%

16. Indiana: 39.9% of adults adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Photo by Scott Dunn/Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 24.4%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 51.4%

14 (tie). New Hampshire: 40.5% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Shutterstock/Sean Pavone

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 23.3%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 55.3%

14 (tie). Missouri: 40.5% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

f11photo/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 24.0%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 53.8%

13. Oklahoma: 40.8% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Brian S/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 25.3%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 50.9%

12. Michigan: 41.2% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

f11photo/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 24.7%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 53.2%

11. Delaware: 41.3% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 27.7%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 58.3%

10. South Carolina: 41.4% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 24.0%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 55.4%

9. Tennessee: 41.6% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Mark Humphrey / AP

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 26.0%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 50.6%

7 (tie). Louisiana: 42.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Allard One/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 27.3%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 48.4%

7 (tie). Florida: 42.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 22.0%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 61.2%

5 (tie). Mississippi: 42.5% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 27.2%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 49.6%

5 (tie). Maine: 42.5% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Anna Gorin/Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 23.1%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 59.4%

4. Alabama: 43.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 27.1%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 51.0%

3. Arkansas: 43.5% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 27.7%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 50.3%

2. Kentucky: 43.6% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

View_Point/Shutterstock

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 28.3%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 48.8%

1. West Virginia: 49.3% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

BusinessInsider USA Images

JodiJacobson/Getty Images

Share of at-risk adults under age 65: 32.3%

Share of at-risk adults over age 65: 51.1%

The 27 states with the biggest populations at risk of developing a serious coronavirus illness

27. Kansas: 38.0% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

26. Rhode Island: 38.3% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

24 (tie). North Carolina: 39.0% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

24 (tie). Montana: 39.0% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

21 (tie). Vermont: 39.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

21(tie). Hawaii: 39.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

21 (tie). Arizona: 39.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

20. New Mexico: 39.4% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

17 (tie). Pennsylvania: 39.8% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

17 (tie). Oregon: 39.8% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

17 (tie). Ohio: 39.8% of adults adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

16. Indiana: 39.9% of adults adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

14 (tie). New Hampshire: 40.5% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

14 (tie). Missouri: 40.5% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

13. Oklahoma: 40.8% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

12. Michigan: 41.2% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

11. Delaware: 41.3% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

10. South Carolina: 41.4% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

9. Tennessee: 41.6% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

7 (tie). Louisiana: 42.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

7 (tie). Florida: 42.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

5 (tie). Mississippi: 42.5% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

5 (tie). Maine: 42.5% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

4. Alabama: 43.1% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

3. Arkansas: 43.5% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

2. Kentucky: 43.6% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

1. West Virginia: 49.3% of adults age 18 and older are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus.

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Recommended articles

The Nigerian Naira goes from the worst-performing currency in the world to the best

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) faces arbitration hurdles as Shell tables claims against Venture Global LNG over unsuppplied cargoes

African cities with the best quality of life index in Q1 2024

African countries with the most honorees in the 2024 Forbes Africa’s 30 under 30 list

Nigeria’s inflation hits 33.20% in March 2024- NBS

7 out of 10 Ugandans are living above their means

Amnesty International leads push to halt Shell asset sale in Nigeria

Nigeria's piles on N47 trillion to its debt stock in a year

30 Africans in the FORBES 30 under 30 list 2024