A meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether comorbidities increase the risk of severe illness in patients with COVID-19. The study included 1558 patients from six studies published up to March 1, 2020. The results showed that hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease were independent risk factors for severe COVID-19. In contrast, no significant association was found between liver disease, malignancy, or renal disease and severe illness. The study used a fixed-effects model due to low heterogeneity among the studies. Subgroup analysis confirmed the findings, showing that these comorbidities increased the risk of severe illness. Publication bias was not detected. The study highlights the importance of identifying these risk factors for early and appropriate management of COVID-19 patients. However, the study has limitations, including small sample size, non-uniform criteria for severe cases, and potential bias from varying study quality. The findings suggest that patients with these comorbidities are at higher risk of severe illness, and further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these results.A meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether comorbidities increase the risk of severe illness in patients with COVID-19. The study included 1558 patients from six studies published up to March 1, 2020. The results showed that hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease were independent risk factors for severe COVID-19. In contrast, no significant association was found between liver disease, malignancy, or renal disease and severe illness. The study used a fixed-effects model due to low heterogeneity among the studies. Subgroup analysis confirmed the findings, showing that these comorbidities increased the risk of severe illness. Publication bias was not detected. The study highlights the importance of identifying these risk factors for early and appropriate management of COVID-19 patients. However, the study has limitations, including small sample size, non-uniform criteria for severe cases, and potential bias from varying study quality. The findings suggest that patients with these comorbidities are at higher risk of severe illness, and further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these results.