Other than discussing the effect that COVID-19's "social distancing" is having on our daily lives, I wonder if the layman is allowed to try and connect the medical dots on this forum? Anyway; here goes:
I heard about specific antiviral medication used in Italy resulting in gross negative outcomes, due to a specific genetically inherited propensity towards anemia of specific Mediterranean peoples. Then I asked if there might be a connection with the death rate reported for New York City. Below is my attempt at connecting the dots:
This is informed speculation about why the death rate for COVID-19 has been so high in NYC and Italy:
1. The death rate in Italy may have something to do with the antiviral drugs used to treat people with inherited anemia. Supporting info appears below, as point #3.
2. Could the covid-19 death rate in NYC be related genetically to that seen in Italy? (Via anemia and other susceptibilities); because 58% of the population in NYC is of Italian descent:
https://www.wetheitalians.com/art-h...-report-italian-americans-new-york-city-today
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Americans_in_New_York_City
3. A possible explanation for Italian covid-19 death rate: Treatment with Ribavirin of people with inherited anemia:
https://www.cardiosmart.org/Healthwise/d000/85/d00085
"Ribavirin may decrease the number of red blood cells in your body. This is called anemia and it can be life-threatening in people who have heart disease or circulation problems. "
"You should not take ribavirin if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
severe liver disease (especially cirrhosis);
autoimmune hepatitis;
a hemoglobin disorder such as anemia, thalassemia (Mediterranean anemia), or sickle-cell anemia;
if you are also taking didanosine (Videx); or
if you are pregnant woman, or a man whose female sexual partner is pregnant.
To make sure you can safely take ribavirin, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
kidney or liver disease (other than hepatitis C);
hepatitis B infection;
a blood cell disorder such as hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells);
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV or AIDS);
diabetes;
a pancreas disorder;
sarcoidosis;
breathing problems;
a thyroid disorder;
new or worsening eye problems (such as retinopathy);
a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or a heart attack;
a history of depression or suicide attempt;
a history of a liver, kidney, or other organ transplant; or
if you have ever received treatment for hepatitis C that did not work well."
Ribavirin used to treat COVID-19:
https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/ac...ratory-infection-with-sars-cov-2-covid-19.pdf
https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/analysis/coronavirus-mers-cov-drugs/
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/respiratorysyncytialvirus/factsheet/
G6PD and Thalassemia anemia:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23944358
I heard about specific antiviral medication used in Italy resulting in gross negative outcomes, due to a specific genetically inherited propensity towards anemia of specific Mediterranean peoples. Then I asked if there might be a connection with the death rate reported for New York City. Below is my attempt at connecting the dots:
This is informed speculation about why the death rate for COVID-19 has been so high in NYC and Italy:
1. The death rate in Italy may have something to do with the antiviral drugs used to treat people with inherited anemia. Supporting info appears below, as point #3.
2. Could the covid-19 death rate in NYC be related genetically to that seen in Italy? (Via anemia and other susceptibilities); because 58% of the population in NYC is of Italian descent:
https://www.wetheitalians.com/art-h...-report-italian-americans-new-york-city-today
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Americans_in_New_York_City
3. A possible explanation for Italian covid-19 death rate: Treatment with Ribavirin of people with inherited anemia:
https://www.cardiosmart.org/Healthwise/d000/85/d00085
"Ribavirin may decrease the number of red blood cells in your body. This is called anemia and it can be life-threatening in people who have heart disease or circulation problems. "
"You should not take ribavirin if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
severe liver disease (especially cirrhosis);
autoimmune hepatitis;
a hemoglobin disorder such as anemia, thalassemia (Mediterranean anemia), or sickle-cell anemia;
if you are also taking didanosine (Videx); or
if you are pregnant woman, or a man whose female sexual partner is pregnant.
To make sure you can safely take ribavirin, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
kidney or liver disease (other than hepatitis C);
hepatitis B infection;
a blood cell disorder such as hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells);
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV or AIDS);
diabetes;
a pancreas disorder;
sarcoidosis;
breathing problems;
a thyroid disorder;
new or worsening eye problems (such as retinopathy);
a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or a heart attack;
a history of depression or suicide attempt;
a history of a liver, kidney, or other organ transplant; or
if you have ever received treatment for hepatitis C that did not work well."
Ribavirin used to treat COVID-19:
https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/ac...ratory-infection-with-sars-cov-2-covid-19.pdf
https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/analysis/coronavirus-mers-cov-drugs/
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/respiratorysyncytialvirus/factsheet/
G6PD and Thalassemia anemia:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23944358