title: Prevalence of comorbidities in the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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.
authors.affiliation: Public 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.
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badawi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Seung Gwan
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ryoo
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes mellitus; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV); Obesity; Systematic review