Opportunities for Research for COVID-19 in the Mission of NIDDK

The current worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to cause incredible morbidity and mortality on a global level. Presently, there is no effective pharmacologic therapy nor a vaccine to offer. Given the circumstances and mode of transmission, the coronavirus crisis is expected to remain a significant part of our lives for the foreseeable future, continuing to cause economic hardships, straining our health care system, and changing the way we work and live on a daily basis. From this crisis, we have learned, and will continue to learn, new information almost daily. What we did know prior to the pandemic was that past viral pandemics have clearly demonstrated the association of chronic disease comorbidities with increased risk for morbidity and mortality (1–3). This observation is no different with the current crisis, as a number of chronic diseases appear to be important comorbidities in those with COVID-19 infection (3,4). As recently reported, during 1–30 March 2020, 89.3% of hospitalized adults had one or more underlying conditions. The most commonly reported conditions overall were hypertension (49.7%), obesity (48.3%), chronic lung disease (34.6%), diabetes (28.3%), cardiovascular disease (27.8%), and kidney disease (13.1%) (4), several of which fall within National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) mission areas. It is important from a medical perspective that we fully understand the clinical characteristics of individuals affected, risk factors for mortality and other outcomes, potential underlying health disparities, and other clinical variables in order to be in the best position as a medical community to inform on mitigation strategies and treatment until a vaccine is found. At present, clinicians managing patients with acute onset of multisystem dysfunction must make urgent decisions with little evidence to guide their practice. …