Scientists have identified stomach diseases that are aggravating the course of COVID-19
Brazilian scientists concluded that what diseases of the stomach, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus, increase the activity of the coronavirus and can aggravate the course of the infection. The results of the study are published in the journal Frontiers of Medicine .
It turned out that in the acidic environment formed in the esophagus and stomach during such diseases, the expression of the ACE2 receptor, which the virus uses to enter cells, increases. It is known that coronavirus infection can manifest itself not only in the failure of the respiratory, but also the digestive systems. In patients with COVID-19, the virus was found in the tissues of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and rectum. In a study by Brazilian scientists, 1,357 people infected with coronavirus took part. Some of the volunteers had a history of GERD. It turned out that they were at risk of developing a severe course of the disease. The mortality rate among them was two to three times higher than in the second group.
In addition, the researchers found that proton pump inhibitors, drugs used to treat GERD, increase the risk of COVID-19 progression. They lower the gastric barrier for SARS-CoV-2. People with Barrett's esophagus, who have a consistently low pH, also have a stronger expression of the ACE2 receptor.
Scientists believe that their results provide enough reason to include GERD and Barrett's esophagus in the list of comorbidities that aggravate the course of coronavirus infection.
