COVID-19 in comorbid chronic diseased patients, pregnant and lactating women: pathophysiology, available drug treatment, and the most suitable protocol regimen in each group.

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Comorbidities such as diabetes, chronic cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, liver diseases, and renal diseases exacerbate the disease, particularly in older patients, pregnant and lactating women.

OBJECTIVE

We performed a systematic review to identify all studies reporting on risks associated with these comorbidities to detect the cause of severity of COVID-19 in these diseases and further selection of the most suitable treatment in each disease.

METHODS

An extensive literature search was performed in the PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases gathering all available articles. We only selected case-control studies that met inclusion criteria and that focused on high-risk chronic diseased patients, pregnant and lactating women that being infected with COVID-19. Selected studies were grouped into 8 broad categories for review and analysis: (1) pathophysiology of COVID-19, (2) characteristics of COVID-19, (3) common laboratory markers of COVID-19, (4) commonly approved and used treatment of COVID-19, and (5) recommended protocol regimen adjustment in comorbid diseases, pregnant and lactating women.

CONCLUSION

This review focused on pathophysiology of COVID-19 especially in comorbid chronic diseased patients, pregnant and lactating women with the most suitable protocol regimen adjustment in each group.