A research study led by Prof. So Hon-cheong, Assistant Professor of the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBS), CUHK has recently reported an advanced statistical approach to analyse risk factors that may be causally related to COVID-19 infection. Results suggested that diabetes may be a risk factor leading to increased susceptibility to or severity of COVID-19 infection through changes in ACE2 expression, which is a key receptor for the virus.

A substantial proportion of COVID-19 deaths in Hong Kong has previous diagnosis of diabetes. There is an urgent need to confirm risk factors and the mechanisms in order to protect the susceptible groups and identify effective treatments. These new insights have recently been published in the international scientific journal Diabetes Care.

The other two team members as co-first authors of the paper include Ms. Alexandria Lau, the BSc student of SBS, and Dr. Rao Shitao, Research Fellow of SBS. The full research paper is available HERE, whereas the related coverage by the Communications and Public Relations Office, CUHK can be viewed HERE.

由香港中文大學生物醫學學院助理教授蘇漢昌教授領導的研究最近透過先進的統計學方法，分析可能造成新型冠狀病毒感染的高危因素。結果顯示，糖尿病有機會是感染新冠肺炎的高危因素，此病症透過改變ACE2受體（又稱「血管緊張素轉換酶」）的表達程度，令患者更易感染新冠病毒或感染後病情變得較為嚴重。

綜觀本港的新冠肺炎死亡個案中，患者多患有糖尿病，凸顯了確定相關高危因素及背後機制的迫切需要，以保護易受感染的群組及找出有效的治療方案。以上最新研究見解最近已在國際科學期刊Diabetes Care發表。

本項研究的其他團隊成員、論文之共同第一作者包括本學院本科生劉理程同學及副研究員饒世濤博士。論文全文可按此處參閱；而中大傳訊及公共關係處的有關報導請按此處瀏覽。

由香港中文大学生物医学学院助理教授苏汉昌教授领导的研究最近透过先进的统计学方法，分析可能造成新型冠状病毒感染的高危因素。结果显示，糖尿病有机会是感染新冠肺炎的高危因素，此病症透过改变ACE2受体（又称「血管紧张素转换酶」）的表达程度，令患者更易感染新冠病毒或感染后病情变得较为严重。

综观本港的新冠肺炎死亡个案中，患者多患有糖尿病，凸显了确定相关高危因素及背后机制的迫切需要，以保护易受感染的群组及找出有效的治疗方案。以上最新研究见解最近已在国际科学期刊Diabetes Care发表。

本项研究的其他团队成员、论文之共同第一作者包括本学院本科生刘理程同学及副研究员饶世涛博士。论文全文可按此处参阅；而中大传讯及公共关系处的有关报导请按此处浏览。