High blood pressure and chronic heart disease are the two most common underlying health conditions in patients admitted into Irish ICU wards for Covid-19.
On Monday an audit found that over 60% of patients with Covid-19 in ICU from June to October had either high blood pressure or chronic heart disease.
Recent reports have shown that around 80% of Covid-19 patients admitted to ICU so far during the current wave of the disease had one or more pre-existing health conditions.
Other underlying illnesses seen in ICU Covid patients include obesity, respiratory illness, kidney disease, neurological disease, cancer, HIV and lung conditions.
The news comes as the HSE encourages the rollout of a third booster shot against Covid.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: “We are beginning to see encouraging signs, in the decreasing levels of infection among those age groups that have received their booster dose.
“The importance of coming forward cannot be overstated. If it is time for your booster, please come forward.”
A booster for those at high-risk and people over the age of 60 is being rolled out now.
The HSE said that at least 75,000 people with low immune systems will need a third jab. Around 90,000 appointments have been made already with an estimated 50,000 boosters being administered already.
Healthcare staff will now also be authorised to receive a booster vaccine following new advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
Over 3,500 health care staff are currently absent from work due to Covid related illnesses.
Hundreds of healthcare workers are infected with Covid each week as studies suggest jabs wane in effectiveness after six months.
Most healthcare workers were vaccinated up to ten months ago and are more susceptible to infection now.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne last week, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, the General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said it is clear that the waning effect of the vaccine is impacting on healthcare staff.
She said that if booster shots were not rolled out soon to all frontline healthcare staff, further closure of wards can be expected as well as cancellation of elective surgeries.
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