Bidirectional causal associations between type 2 diabetes and COVID‐19

Abstract

Observational studies have reported high comorbidity between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and severe COVID‐19. However, the causality between T2D and COVID‐19 has yet to be validated. We performed genetic correlation and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to assess genetic relationships and potential causal associations between T2D and three COVID‐19 outcomes (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS‐CoV‐2] infection, COVID‐19 hospitalization, and critical COVID‐19). Molecular pathways connecting SARS‐CoV‐2 and COVID‐19 were reconstructed to extract insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the connection. We identified a high genetic overlap between T2D and each COVID‐19 outcome (genetic correlations 0.21–0.28). The MR analyses indicated that genetic liability to T2D confers a causal effect on hospitalized COVID‐19 (odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.12) and critical COVID‐19 (1.09, 1.03–1.16), while genetic liability to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection exerts a causal effect on T2D (1.25, 1.00–1.56). There was suggestive evidence that T2D was associated with an increased risk for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (1.02, 1.00–1.03), while critical COVID‐19 (1.06, 1.00–1.13) and hospitalized COVID‐19 (1.09, 0.99–1.19) were associated with an increased risk for T2D. Pathway analysis identified a panel of immunity‐related genes that may mediate the links between T2D and COVID‐19 at the molecular level. Our study provides robust support for the bidirectional causal associations between T2D and COVID‐19. T2D may contribute to amplifying the severity of COVID‐19, while the liability to COVID‐19 may increase the risk for T2D.

Pilot genome-wide association study of antibody response to inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

“…Besides, population stratification, vaccine types and the time from immunization to antibody detection could potentially bias the results. As conditions like smoking, hypertension and type 2 diabetes are associated with COVID-19 outcomes ( 54 – 56 ), and diseases such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease tend to be post-COVID-19 sequelae ( 57 , 58 ), they may also be confounding factors for an immune reaction to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Therefore, further validation of our findings in a larger cohort will be needed.…”

Neurofilament Light: a biomarker of neurodegeneration correlated with Type 2 diabetes and other related diseases

“…In the context of the global human health of the new coronary epidemic, the presence of diabetes and diabetes complications, such as cardiovascular disease and nephropathy, is widely considered as a risk factor for the serious outcomes of COVID-19, among those with poor glycemic control [81]. In other words, T2D may contribute to amplifying the severity of COVID-19, while the liability to COVID-19 may increase the risk for T2D [82]. Meanwhile, the risk of long-term neurological consequences is beginning to be of concern.…”

Associations between pulse rate and COVID‐19

“…Risk factors associated with the severity and mortality of COVID‐19 include obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and smoking. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 Meanwhile, COVID‐19 can lead to a myriad of post‐COVID consequences. 2 , 6 , 7 As one of the most fundamental signs of life, heart rate is a vital predictor of cardiovascular risk and mortality.…”