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Short Report
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Purpose: There is evidence that interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are elevated in cases of complicated COVID-19, but it is also possible that this cytokine has a far more important role in the pathogenesis of viral infection. Methods: Data on COVID-19 mortality from Italy and the UK were compared with previously published results of mean IL-6 levels from these countries as well as from the USA. Results: There was a highly significant correlation (r = 0.9883; p = 0.00025) between age-stratified mortality rates and IL-6 levels from similar healthy individuals. Levels of IL-6 were proportionately higher in males, the elderly, individuals of black ethnicity and obese individuals, with similar findings in relation to COVID-19 mortality in these groups. Conclusions: IL-6 levels prior to infection may predict mortality, given that this cytokine directly facilitates viral cell entry and replication. This provides a rationale for prophylactic and therapeutic measures directed at lowering IL-6, including Vitamin D prescription.
Keywords
IL-6, COVID-19, Vitamin D
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This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Short Report
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 29 May, 2020
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Infectious Diseases
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Purpose: There is evidence that interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are elevated in cases of complicated COVID-19, but it is also possible that this cytokine has a far more important role in the pathogenesis of viral infection. Methods: Data on COVID-19 mortality from Italy and the UK were compared with previously published results of mean IL-6 levels from these countries as well as from the USA. Results: There was a highly significant correlation (r = 0.9883; p = 0.00025) between age-stratified mortality rates and IL-6 levels from similar healthy individuals. Levels of IL-6 were proportionately higher in males, the elderly, individuals of black ethnicity and obese individuals, with similar findings in relation to COVID-19 mortality in these groups. Conclusions: IL-6 levels prior to infection may predict mortality, given that this cytokine directly facilitates viral cell entry and replication. This provides a rationale for prophylactic and therapeutic measures directed at lowering IL-6, including Vitamin D prescription.
Figure 1
Figure 2
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