TNF and diabetes mellitus: However, current infection rates as well as CFR still have to be considered with caution.68 Risk for severe disease and death is strongly associated with older age (in particular >70 years), cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, and cancer.68–70 Laboratory predictors for severe and fatal disease predominantly include elevated lactate dehydrogenase, pro-calcitonin, and D-dimers, increased serum levels of cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as well as decreased lymphocyte counts, particularly CD8+ T and NK cells.69–72