Are patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus at increased risk for COVID-19 infection?

Lei Fang, George Karakiulakis, Michael Roth

Published:March 11, 2020

Note

… These data suggest that ACE2 expression is increased in diabetes and treatment with ACE inhibitors and ARBs increases ACE2 expression. Consequently, the increased expression of ACE2 would facilitate infection with COVID-19. We therefore hypothesise that diabetes and hypertension treatment with ACE2-stimulating drugs increases the risk of developing severe and fatal COVID-19.

Reference

The Lancet – DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30116-8