AlGhatrif M, Cingolani O, Lakatta E
JAMA Cardiology
Link to Pubmed / Journal
Published April 3, 2020
Summary
An interesting article by Dr Majd AlGhatrif (National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, USA) in JAMA Cardiology, sheds light on the fact that the pandemic of Covid 19 presents a great challenge for the most vulnerable in general and the elderly in particular. Current available data show disease severity and mortality in those beyond 60, with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes.
The article states that “older individuals, especially those with hypertension and diabetes, have reduced ACE2 expression and upregulation ofangiotensin II proinflammatory signaling”. The authors hypothesize that “with superimposed COVID-19 disease, SARS-CoV-2 binding to ACE2 acutely exaggerates this proinflammatory background, predisposing these subpopulations to greater COVID-19 disease severity and mortality”.