Our finding that non-improved patients had significantly increased IL-6 levels is consistent with other studies demonstrating that high IL-6 levels correlate with severity of COVID-19 [31], and that increased plasma and bronchoalveolar IL-6 levels are associated with lung injury and prolonged mechanical ventilation, organ dysfunction, morbidity and mortality in lung diseases [32, 33]. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is lung disorder.