To: The Honorable Mitch McConnell, The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, The Honorable Chuck Schumer, and The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
"As clinicians and researchers respond to this pandemic, our understanding of COVID-19 continues to evolve. What we originally understood to be an infectious, respiratory virus, we now know has effects beyond how it attacks patients’ lung many of which involve conditions studied by NIDDK. Those infected with the virus are presenting with acute gastrointestinal syndrome with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and acute kidney injury when they had no underlying chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients also are experiencing hematologic complications, including coagulation and hematopoietic dysfunction. COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting individuals with comorbid conditions, like diabetes, obesity, liver disease, and CKD. These chronic conditions are more prevalent in minority populations placing them at higher risk to COVID-19 as the early data show. We also know that having one of these underlying conditions effects virus progression and patient outcomes. Yet, without additional funding, NIDDK will be forced to divert funds from its existing priorities to better under these characteristics of COVID-19."
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