Understanding the interaction between metabolic syndrome and COVID-19

Understanding the correlation between metabolic syndrome and COVID-19 can be critical to improved treatment and better outcomes.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global crisis, of which millions of people with more than 40 million confirmed cases worldwide and over one Million deaths related to COVID-19 are affected. The elderly population in particular or people with pre-existing diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases are more prone to the infection and its consequences.

While many patients recover from COVID-19, some people may have damage to their lungs and other organs, including the heart, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract, due to the virus.

Researchers paid more attention to the crosstalk between metabolic syndrome (a group of metabolic disorders that can include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or abdominal obesity that increase the risk of future cardiovascular disease) and COVID-19.

Researchers focus their efforts on identifying, preventing, and treating people who may be more susceptible to the more serious and harmful effects of COVID-19, such as: B. Individuals with metabolic syndrome.

In a new study published in BIO Integration, scientists from China have reviewed and summarized the current knowledge about metabolic syndrome and COVID-19. First, the COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 receptors that are present in various organs such as the lungs, kidneys, heart, liver, brain and intestines.

It is through this ACE2 receptor binding mechanism that the virus gains access to cells to cause infection. Since these ACE2 receptors are not only found in the lungs, there is increasing evidence that organ damage may have been caused by SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the link between the metabolic syndrome and COVID-19.

The trigger of a large inflammatory response in the immune system (a "cytokine storm") to COVID-19 infection may also play a role between metabolic syndrome and COVID-19.

A pattern of elevated levels of inflammatory molecules has been found in severe cases of COVID-19 patients. The eventual death of SARS-CoV-2 infected cells leads to an increased production of inflammatory cells and molecules in the environment, which ultimately leads to a dysregulation of the immune system's reaction, persistent cell damage and a worsening of the progression of the infection itself.

The interaction between the metabolic syndrome and COVID-19 is based on three main factors: dysfunction of the ACE2 receptors, impaired immune response (especially increased inflammation) and abnormal blood clotting (or clotting).

Current research shows evidence of a much higher risk of serious COVID-19 illnesses, lengthy hospital stays or even the death of COVID-19 patients who also have diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity or other cardiovascular diseases.

Understanding the interplay between metabolic syndrome and COVID-19 is important in understanding how current drugs used to treat metabolic disorders can potentially be useful in improving patient outcomes and prognosis for COVID-19 patients with pre-existing metabolic disorders.

Ultimately, however, preventing and treating COVID-19 and metabolic diseases themselves are key to lowering death rates and improving clinical outcomes.

Written by Maggie Leung, PharmD.

References

Guo, Z., Jiang, S., Li, Z. & Chen, S. (2020). The metabolic syndrome interacts with COVID-19. BIO integration. doi: 10.15212 / bioi-2020-0035

Image by Aneta Esz from Pixabay