Niloofar Agharezaee, Flora Forouzesh,
Volume 23, Issue 5 (11-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause disease in humans and animals. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus. The World Health Organization has declared this infectious disease as a global pandemic.
Objective: This study aims to review the latest research advances in genetics, pathogenicity, and clinical features of COVID-19, as well as current therapies to combat this disease.
Methods & Materials: This is a systematic review study on articles published from 2010 to 2020 by searching in reputable databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect.
Ethical Considerations: Ethical principles have been observed in accordance with the guidelines of the National Ethics Committee and the COPE regulations.
Results: Examining the genome and genetic studies of the virus, it can be said that there are many similarities between different coronavirus types, but there are differences in their genomic and phenotypic structures that can affect their pathogenesis. Re-use of existing therapeutic drugs, previously designed for other infections and viral pathologies is currently the only practical approach to fight COVID-19. The tests for SARS-CoV-2 genome-specific vaccines and the therapeutic antibodies are currently being tested, but they require a long-term process and complete safety testing.
Conclusion: Rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is the basis of disease control. There is currently no specific antiviral drug approved for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, preventive measures are necessary to stop and control the spread of COVID-19, according to genetic studies and the obtaining knowledge of the molecular mechanism of this virus.
Mehrdad Nasrollahzadeh Sabet, Mohammad Khanalipour, Milad Gholami, Abdolazim Sarli, Arefeh Rahimi Khorrami, Emran Esmaeilzadeh,
Volume 23, Issue 5 (11-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The new Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak initiated from China in late December 2019, has posed a great global health threat. Since patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are at high risk of COVID-19, this study aims to investigate the prevalence, severity, clinical manifestations, and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with underlying diseases compared to those without underlying diseases.
Methods & Materials: This study was performed on 1408 patients with COVID-19 admitted to Golestan, Hajar, Khanevadeh and Besat hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Required data including disease prevalence, severity, clinical manifestations and mortality rate in patients with and without underlying diseases were collected and then analyzed using statistical tests in SPSS software, considering a significance level of P<0.05.
Ethical Considerations: This study was approved by the AJA University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.AJAUMS.REC.1399.091). Ethical principles have been observed in accordance with the guidelines of the National Ethics Committee and the COPE regulations.
Results: Patients were 912 men (64.8%) and 496 women (35.2%) aged 18-98 years (Mean age= 57.8 years). Results reported that 27% of patients were intubated and 21.9% were died. Blood oxygen level in 53.7% of patients was less than 93 mg/dL; 36.1% had a history of hypertension, 24.1% had a history of diabetes, and 21.7% had a history of cardiovascular disease.
Conclusion: The severity, clinical manifestations, and mortality rate of COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension are significantly different compared to those without underlying diseases.