Altitude as a protective factor from COVID-19

• DOI: 10.1101/2020.08.03.20167262
• Publication Date: 2020-08-04T18:59:49Z
• Authors: Timothy M. Thomson; Fresia Casas; Harold Andre Guer...; Rómulo Figueroa-M...; Francisco C. Vill...; Claudia Machicado
• Keywords: Pandemic

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic had a delayed onset in South America compared to Asia (outside of China), Europe or North America. In spite the presumed time advantage for implementation preventive measures help contain its spread, that region followed growth rates paralleled, and currently exceed, those observed several weeks before Europe. Indeed, early August 2020, many countries Central presented among highest world confirmed cases deaths per million inhabitants. Here, we have taken an ecological approach describe current state Peru dynamics. Our analysis supports protective effect altitude from incidence mortality. Further, provide circumstantial evidence internal migration through specific land route is significant factor progressively overriding protection afforded by high altitude. Finally, show independent poverty indexes inversely correlated with prevalence population risk factors associated severe COVID-19, including hypertension hypercholesterolemia. We discuss long-term multisystemic adaptive traits hypobaric hypoxia as possible mechanisms may explain death due COVID-19.