Association of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancer, kidney disease, and high-cholesterol with COVID-19 disease severity and fatality: A systematic review. Issue 5 (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zaki, Nazar; Alashwal, Hany; Ibrahim, Sahar
• Is Part Of: Diabetes & metabolic syndrome. Volume 14:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 1133
• Page End: 1142
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Coronavirus -- SARS-CoV-2 -- Hypertension -- Diabetes -- Stroke -- Cancer -- Kidney -- High cholesterol -- High blood pressure; Diabetes -- Periodicals; Metabolism -- Disorders -- Periodicals; Diabetes Mellitus -- Periodicals; Metabolic Diseases -- Periodicals; Diabète -- Périodiques; Métabolisme, Troubles du -- Périodiques; Endocrinologie -- Périodiques; Diabète -- Physiopathologie -- Périodiques; Diabetes; Metabolism -- Disorders; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2020.07.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1871-4021

Abstract

Abstract: Background and aims: To undertake a review and critical appraisal of published/preprint reports that offer methods of determining the effects of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancer, kidney issues, and high-cholesterol on COVID-19 disease severity. Methods: A search was conducted by two authors independently on the freely available COVID-19 Open Research Dataset (CORD-19). We developed an automated search engine to screen a total of 59, 000 articles in a few seconds. Filtering of the articles was then undertaken using keywords and questions, e.g. "Effects of diabetes on COVID/normal coronavirus/SARS-CoV-2/nCoV/COVID-19 disease severity, mortality?". The search terms were repeated for all the comorbidities considered in this paper. Additional articles were retrieved by searching via Google Scholar and PubMed. Findings: A total of 54 articles were considered for a full review. It was observed that diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol levels possess an apparent relation to COVID-19 severity. Other comorbidities, such as cancer, kidney disease, and stroke, must be further evaluated to determine a strong relationship to the virus. Conclusion: Reports associating cancer, kidney disease, and stroke with COVID-19 should be carefully interpreted, not only because of the size of the samples, but also because patients could be old, have a history of smoking, or have any other clinical condition suggesting that these factors might be associated with the poor COVID-19 outcomes rather than the comorbidity itself. Further research regarding this relationship and its clinical management is warranted. Highlights: Diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol levels possess an apparent relation to COVID-19 severity. Associating cancer, kidney disease, and stroke with COVID-19 severity should be carefully interpreted. A comprehensive systematic review assists us to draw lessons from earlier COVID-19 experiences and practices.