An imbalance between the two main pathways of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (down-regulated ACE2/angiotensin-(1–7) and up-regulated ACE/angiotensin II) and the cytokine storm triggering an inflammatory process may explain the increased risk of severe disease in COVID-19 patients with comorbidities and advanced age [16], as observed in the present study. The gene discussed is REN; the disease is COVID-19.