Fig. 1.

Comorbidities related to worsening of COVID-19 and vascular endothelial glycocalyx damage. The vascular endothelial glycocalyx is impaired due to factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can easily infected the increased endothelial glycocalyx-damaged microvasculature that is observed to a greater extent in elderly people compared to young people, and in males more than females. Abbreviations used: ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; DIC: Disseminated intravascular coagulation; CKD: Chronic kidney disease; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; RAAS: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.