Alaa Badawi1 and Seung Gwan Ryoo2
1Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada
2University of Toronto, Canada
Title: Prevalence of comorbidities in the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV): A systematic review and meta-analysis
Biography
Biography: Alaa Badawi1 and Seung Gwan Ryoo2
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is associated with life threatening severe illnesses and a mortality rate of ~35%, particularly in patients with underlying comorbidities. Systematic analysis of 637 MERS-CoV cases suggests that diabetes and hypertension are equally prevalent in ~50% of the patients. Cardiac diseases and obesity are present, respectively in 30% and 16% of the cases. These conditions down-regulate the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and impair the host's innate and humoral immune systems. In conclusion, the protection against MERS-CoV and other respiratory infections can be improved if public health vaccination strategies are tailored to target persons with chronic disorders.
