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Gender and Age Differences Reveal Risk Patterns in COVID-19 Outbreak

Yogendra Singh, Gaurav Gupta, Anurag Mishra

    Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine
    |May 16, 2020
    PubMed

    Insights

    This study explores the link between the ACE2 gene, hypertension, and COVID-19 severity. Certain genetic variations in ACE2 may increase cardiovascular risks, particularly in older individuals affected by the novel coronavirus.

    Area of Science:

    • Genetics
    • Cardiology
    • Infectious Diseases

    Background:

    • The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to understand factors influencing disease severity.
    • Essential hypertension in women of Chinese Han descent has been linked to specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene.
    • ACE2 activity is typically low in young, healthy individuals but elevated in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the association between ACE2 gene variations and hypertension.
    • To explore the potential implications of ACE2 activity levels in the context of COVID-19 infection and cardiovascular complications.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of 5 specific SNPs (rs1514283, rs4646155, rs4646176, rs2285666, rs879922) within the ACE2 gene.
    • Review of existing literature on ACE2 activity in different age groups and disease states.

    Main Results:

    • Identified specific ACE2 gene SNPs associated with essential hypertension in Chinese Han women.
    • Observed lower ACE2 activity in younger healthy individuals and higher activity in those with cardiovascular diseases.

    Conclusions:

    • ACE2 gene variations may predispose individuals to hypertension and potentially influence COVID-19 outcomes.
    • Elevated ACE2 activity in patients with cardiovascular disease could suggest a higher risk for severe myocarditis, acute heart failure, and cardiac complications, especially in elderly COVID-19 patients.

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