Coronavirus and Obesity: Could Insulin Resistance Mediate the Severity of COVID-19 Infection?

The document from May 12, 2020, explores the potential relationship between obesity, insulin resistance, and the severity of COVID-19 infection. It suggests that insulin resistance, often associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome, could exacerbate COVID-19 severity due to its impact on ACE2 expression, the cellular entry point for the virus. The authors argue that insulin resistance might be a prognostic indicator for COVID-19 and recommend that future studies include measurements of clinical and biochemical variables related to insulin resistance to assess its correlation with disease severity. They also propose that if a link is confirmed, improving insulin sensitivity could be a therapeutic strategy to improve outcomes for COVID-19 patients. However, the document notes the challenge of evaluating insulin resistance in clinical practice due to its complex nature and lack of routine measurement.