Why Covid-19 patients with diabetes or heart disease are more likely to die from coronavirus - Daily Mail

The findings may explain why people with metabolic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, who often have elevated cholesterol levels, make up a disproportionate number of patients who develop severe Covid-19 symptoms. .

Researchers found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, can stick to cholesterol molecules as they bind to their regular cell receptor, called SR-B1.

The virus binds to cholesterol and when cholesterol then attaches to its SR-B1 receptor on the surface of human cells, it brings the virus with it, which allows it to latch onto ACE2 allowing it to infect cells .

A study published in Nature Metabolism by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences looked at the role of 'good' cholesterol, otherwise known as high-density lipoproteins (HDL), in coronavirus infection. .

The study looked specifically at the SR-B1 receptor, which connects with cholesterol molecules and is found on cells throughout the human body, including in the lungs, where coronavirus targets.

SARS-CoV-2 cannot exploit this receptor directly, the study found, but it can take advantage of the process of cholesterol connecting to SR-B1 in order to infiltrate cells. .

In most people, high levels of high-density cholesterol is good for health. 

However, in people with metabolic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, it is regularly seen that they too have elevated levels as the body fails to properly regulate levels. 

People with heart disease and diabetes, who are most likely to have elevated HDL levels, are among those who would benefit the most.