MMP2 and COVID-19: Next, an intersection analysis was performed between lactate‐related genes and DEGs in COVID‐19 patients, revealing 18 overlapping genes: GCDH, TGFB2, SHC3, GSR, PIK3C2A, HTT, DNM1L, HIF1A, PTP4A2, ADRB2, PDP1, SLC16A4, FOXM1, P4HB, MMP2, DISC1, CAV1, and SPAG6 (Figure 4(b)).