Extensive Mendelian randomization study identifies potential causal risk factors for severe COVID-19.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Identifying causal risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is critical for its prevention and treatment. Many associated pre-existing conditions and biomarkers have been reported, but these observational associations suffer from confounding and reverse causation.

Methods

Here, we perform a large-scale two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal roles of many traits in severe COVID-19.

Results

Our results highlight multiple body mass index (BMI)-related traits as risk-increasing: BMI (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.51-2.37), hip circumference (OR: 1.46, 1.15-1.85), and waist circumference (OR: 1.82, 1.36-2.43). Our multivariable MR analysis further suggests that the BMI-related effect might be driven by fat mass (OR: 1.63

SUBMITTER: Sun Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9053245 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature