4 ms·

I've heard it mentioned by an unreliable source that perhaps the Asian phenotype has more of a tendancy to succumb to the virus. I won't how true this is as the

I've heard it mentioned by an unreliable source that perhaps the Asian phenotype has more of a tendancy to succumb to the virus. I won't how true this is as the majority of the infections seem to be based in Asian countries so far. I wonder how strong the correlation is.

manojlds 7y ago
There's a lot of travel within those regions, so can't say much, but one theory is the difference is ACE2 receptors amongst asians.
- christkv 7y ago
  From what I know there is a single study with 1 east asian patient. I would not conclude anything from that.
- christkv 7y ago
  There is definitively different phenotypes https://www.medsci.org/v14p0639.htm https://www.medsci.org/v14p0639.htm What that means for the coronavirus is hard to say. Ideally we would know the composition of the cruise ship in japan of ethnicity (illness in each group, and outcome) and location on the ship so one can control for likelihood of being infected (I would guess having a room with a terrace might mean less chance of infection as you would not be only relying on AC air, but its a complete guess).
bart_spoon 7y ago
Seems like a jump to a conclusion that can be explained much more simply: the virus has started in China, and the neighboring countries are the next hardest hit. Seems to me like this would be the case for any novel disease for any region of the world. There seem to be plenty of non-Asians whom come in contact with the sick who in turn get sick. Its just that there are many fewer non-Asians coming into contact with the disease than Asians, for the time being.
izend 7y ago
Men and smokers are definitely more susceptible from the data right now.
- capableweb 7y ago
  Could you link a source providing the argument that men and smokers are more susceptible to COVID-19?
  - nexuist 7y ago
    I don't have a source for the claim about men, but the idea that smokers are susceptible comes from what we know about SARS, which is that it is a respiratory disease. COVID-19 is very similar to SARS so we can say with confidence that it is also a respiratory disease. Logically, if this virus attacks your lungs, and your lungs are damaged from years of severe smoking, then the virus will hit you harder and you may take longer to recover / die more quickly.
    - capableweb 7y ago
      Right, so it's less about smoking and more about previous damage to the lungs. That makes sense. I thought there was something specific about smoking that was linked somehow to COVID-19, but seems like you're making a more general claim. All good!

manojlds 7y ago

There's a lot of travel within those regions, so can't say much, but one theory is the difference is ACE2 receptors amongst asians.

christkv 7y ago
From what I know there is a single study with 1 east asian patient. I would not conclude anything from that.
christkv 7y ago
There is definitively different phenotypes https://www.medsci.org/v14p0639.htm https://www.medsci.org/v14p0639.htm What that means for the coronavirus is hard to say. Ideally we would know the composition of the cruise ship in japan of ethnicity (illness in each group, and outcome) and location on the ship so one can control for likelihood of being infected (I would guess having a room with a terrace might mean less chance of infection as you would not be only relying on AC air, but its a complete guess).

bart_spoon 7y ago

Seems like a jump to a conclusion that can be explained much more simply: the virus has started in China, and the neighboring countries are the next hardest hit. Seems to me like this would be the case for any novel disease for any region of the world. There seem to be plenty of non-Asians whom come in contact with the sick who in turn get sick. Its just that there are many fewer non-Asians coming into contact with the disease than Asians, for the time being.

izend 7y ago

Men and smokers are definitely more susceptible from the data right now.

capableweb 7y ago
Could you link a source providing the argument that men and smokers are more susceptible to COVID-19?
- nexuist 7y ago
  I don't have a source for the claim about men, but the idea that smokers are susceptible comes from what we know about SARS, which is that it is a respiratory disease. COVID-19 is very similar to SARS so we can say with confidence that it is also a respiratory disease. Logically, if this virus attacks your lungs, and your lungs are damaged from years of severe smoking, then the virus will hit you harder and you may take longer to recover / die more quickly.
  - capableweb 7y ago
    Right, so it's less about smoking and more about previous damage to the lungs. That makes sense. I thought there was something specific about smoking that was linked somehow to COVID-19, but seems like you're making a more general claim. All good!