Risk factors of COVID-19: immunological aspects

Abstract

Recent studies devoted to the patterns of the COVID-19 course in patients of various groups indicate a significant role of the immunity state in the disease development. Risk groups of severe disease course, including senile age, obesity and immunodeficiency conditions, have been identified. Research is underway to identify the genetic predisposition to SARS-CoV-2 infection and determine the poor prognosis in COVID-19. The presented article examines the immunological aspects of pathological conditions associated with an unfavorable prognosis of COVID-19. A complex immune response (including both innate immune mechanisms and an adaptive systemic response) develops in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The key mechanism of multisystem organ failure is a hyperimmune reaction with the development of a systemic inflammatory response, the so-called "cytokine storm", and the characteristics of the immune response largely determine the disease severity. In this regard, the immune response characteristics in patients at risk are of particular interest, including studies concerning the immunological aspects of a more severe disease course depending on age, the history of obesity, diabetes mellitus and other pathological conditions, as well as various genetic factors, which is the subject of active study at present. KEYWORDS: immune system, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, risk factors, obesity, oncological diseases, genetic predisposition, immune response. FOR CITATION: Glazanova T.V., Shilova E.R., Pavlova I.E. Risk factors of COVID-19: immunological aspects. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2023;7(11). (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2023-7-11-5.