ACE2 and Hypertension: Indeed, in mice models, arterial hypertension, atrial fibrillation and type 2 diabetes have been shown to upregulate ACE2 levels irrespective of medications.21 22 Moreover, ACE2 levels are higher in men and with increasing age.23 Most of the published data on deaths in COVID-19 disease report that men of increasing age are particularly susceptible to poor outcomes.13 24