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Review
. 2020 Aug 1;129(2):257-262.
doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00362.2020. Epub 2020 Jul 23.

Geographic components of SARS-CoV-2 expansion: a hypothesis

Kelsey E Joyce  1 , Samuel R Weaver  1 , Samuel J E Lucas  1
Affiliations
Review

Geographic components of SARS-CoV-2 expansion: a hypothesis

Kelsey E Joyce et al. J Appl Physiol (1985). .

Abstract

The emergence of COVID-19 infection (caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus) in Wuhan, China in the latter part of 2019 has, within a relatively short time, led to a global pandemic. Amidst the initial spread of SARS-CoV-2 across Asia, an epidemiologic trend emerged in relation to high altitude (HA) populations. Compared with the rest of Asia, SARS-CoV-2 exhibited attenuated rates of expansion with limited COVID-19 infection severity along the Tibetan plateau. These characteristics were soon evident in additional HA regions across Bolivia, central Ecuador, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Sichuan province of mainland China. This mini-review presents a discussion surrounding attributes of the HA environment, aspects of HA physiology, as well as, genetic variations among HA populations which may provide clues for this pattern of SARS-CoV-2 expansion and COVID-19 infection severity. Explanations are provided in the hypothetical, albeit relevant historical evidence is provided to create a foundation for future research.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; high altitude; hypoxia.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, are declared by the authors.

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