Potential associations of selected polymorphic genetic variants with COVID-19 disease susceptibility and severity

Abstract

In this study, we analyzed the potential associations of selected laboratory and anamnestic parameters, as well as 12 genetic polymorphisms (SNPs), with clinical COVID-19 occurrence and severity in 869 hospitalized patients. The SNPs analyzed by qPCR were selected based on population-wide genetic (GWAS) data previously indicating association with the severity of COVID-19. We confirmed the associations of disease with several clinical laboratory and anamnestic parameters and found an unexpected association between less severe disease and the loss of smell and taste. In most cases, selected SNP analysis supported earlier results by indicating genetic associations with hospitalization and disease severity, while the potential role of some previously unrecognized polymorphisms has also been observed. A genetic association was indicated between the presence of a reduced-function ABCG2 transporter variant and a less severe disease, which was also observed in diabetic patients. Our current results, which should be reinforced by larger studies, indicate that together with laboratory and anamnestic parameters, genetic polymorphisms may have predictive value for the clinical occurrence and severity of COVID-19.