Respiratory system disease was the fourth most prevalent comorbidity in a study conducted in Wuhan, China, comprised of 1,576 COVID-19-infected patients (1.5%, 95% CI 0.9-2.1%). The pooled odds ratio of respiratory system disease  when comparing severe and non-severe infected patients was 2.46 (95% CI 1.76-3.44).

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Respiratory System Disease in COVID-19 Patients by Geographic Location

Yang, J., Zheng, Y., Gou, X. et al. Prevalence of comorbidities and its effects in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Infectious Diseases (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.03.017

Prevalence of comorbidities and its effects in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Respiratory System Disease in COVID-19 Patients in Wuhan, China

- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Asthma

Meta-Analysis of the Affect of Respiratory Diseases on COVID-19 Patients 

Acute respiratory distress syndrome occurs when fluid builds up in the lungs, which leads to major inflammation and may be fatal. Although the nature of fluid built up isn't fully understood, researchers hypothesize that it may be a misregulation of hyaluronan, which can absorb water up to 1000 times its molecular weight. Hyaluronan is a common component of the extracellular matrix and is involved in inflammation response. 

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Hyaluronan in COVID-19 Patients

A  European U-BIOPRED  (Unbiased BIOmarkers Predictive of REspiratory Disease outcomes) cohort study examined the mRNA expression level of ACE2, TMPRSS2, and Furin in the sputum, bronchial brush and bronchial biopsies of volunteer subjects.  These three biomarkers are heavily involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and it was hypothesized that these expression levels would correlate with asthma severity or other molecular phenotypes.  These findings may help to explain why those with asthma and other respiratory diseases are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptoms of COVID-19.

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