High incidence of SARS-CoV-2 severe pneumonia in urban metropolitan areas: a suggestive pathogenetic hypothesis

Excerpt

Recently, on 5 May 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 is no longer considered a “global health emergency” after 3 years and approximately 20 million deaths; however, the causative agent, SARS-CoV‑2, continues to pose a threat with the emergence of high-risk variants. The current pandemic has been characterized, particularly in its early stages, by a variable incidence of pneumonia in different geographical areas [ 1, 2]. The incidence of severe pneumonia was higher in urban areas [ 3]. The main reason for this is that urban areas often have higher population densities, leading to higher rates of COVID-19 transmission due to the close proximity of individuals, increased interactions, and potential challenges in maintaining physical distance [ 4]. This may be a major contributor to the increased incidence of pneumonia and consequently severe pneumonia. …