Abstract

Author(s): José Luis VIQUE-SÁNCHEZ, Octavio GALINDO-HERNÁNDEZ

Introduction: The COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected almost 75 million people worldwide and causing more than 1,680,000 deaths in 191 countries (December 2020). In Mexico with more than 1,300,000 cases and 115,000 deaths from COVID-19, adequate measures must be taken to prevent contagions and major complications, they are essential for the health system in Mexico.

Objective: Identify risk factors that may be characteristic of Mexico and contribute to a higher risk before COVID-19. Generate awareness and understanding of these risk factors as a Public Health problem.

Materials and methods: A review of articles indexed in PubMed and Redalyc was carried out between the months (December 2019 - July 2020), using the keywords “COVID19, ACE2, Risk factor, Chronic-degenerative diseases, Mexico, Obesity, Overweight”, in the 39 articles were reviewed with two or more keywords as inclusion criteria, as well as 4 specific reports of the prevalence of chronic degenerative diseases and risk factors from Mexico (ENSANUT 2012, 2016, 2018 and OECD-Health at a Glance 2019).

Results: Chronic-degenerative diseases could favor the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), therefore, increased ACE2 expression increases the risk of COVID19 in this type of patient in Mexico.

Conclusions: The increase in ACE2 in the cell membrane is favored by the development of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, risk factors (overweight, obesity, smoking), as well as the use of anti-hypertensive drugs. It is necessary for the health system in Mexico to develop preventive measures in various areas, with the aim of reducing this type of diseases and risk factors to prevent the development of COVID-19.