The Impact of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Expression Levels in Patients with Comorbidities on COVID-19 Severity: A Comprehensive Review
August 2021
in “
Microorganisms
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TLDR Higher ACE2 levels in certain tissues may worsen COVID-19 in people with other health issues, especially older adults.
This review examined the role of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression levels in the severity of COVID-19 among patients with comorbidities. It was found that higher ACE2 expression in myocardial and lung tissues was associated with heart failure and COPD, respectively, potentially contributing to more severe COVID-19 outcomes. Additionally, an age-related increase in ACE2 receptors in the respiratory epithelium may explain the heightened severity of COVID-19 in older adults. Despite ACE2's involvement in SARS-CoV-2 infection, no link was found between the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors and COVID-19 severity.
