Prevalence of comorbidities in the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): a systematic review and meta-analysis
Alaa F. Badawia b✉, Seung Gwan Ryooc
- aPublic Health Risk Science Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, 180 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 3L7, Canada. Electronic address: alaa.badawi@phac-aspc.gc.ca
- bPublic Health Risk Science Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, 180 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 3L7, Canada
- cFaculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is associated with life-threatening severe illnesses and a mortality rate of approximately 35%, particularly in patients with underlying comorbidities. A systematic analysis of 637 MERS-CoV cases suggests that diabetes and hypertension are equally prevalent in approximately 50% of the patients. Cardiac diseases are present in 30% and obesity in 16% of the cases. These conditions down-regulate the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and impair the host's innate and humoral immune systems. In conclusion, protection against MERS-CoV and other respiratory infections can be improved if public health vaccination strategies are tailored to target persons with chronic disorders.