International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 49, August 2016, Pages 129-133
Alaa Badawi, Seung Gwan Ryoo
Abstract
The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is associated with life-threatening severe illnesses and a mortality rate of approximately 35%, particularly in patients with underlying comorbidities. A systematic analysis of 637 MERS-CoV cases suggests that diabetes and hypertension are equally prevalent in approximately 50% of the patients. Cardiac diseases are present in 30% and obesity in 16% of the cases. These conditions down-regulate the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and impair the host's innate and humoral immune systems. In conclusion, protection against MERS-CoV and other respiratory infections can be improved if public health vaccination strategies are tailored to target persons with chronic disorders.
Keywords
Diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular diseases, Obesity, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Systematic review