The causal relationship between COVID-19 and estimated glomerular filtration rate: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Abstract Background Previous Mendelian studies identified a causal relationship between renal function, as assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and severe infection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, much is still unknown because of the limited number of associate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Nephrology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-023-03443-4 |
| _version_ | 1797350070240149504 |
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| author | Qiuling Li Mengjiao Lin Yinghui Deng Haozhang Huang |
| author_facet | Qiuling Li Mengjiao Lin Yinghui Deng Haozhang Huang |
| author_sort | Qiuling Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Previous Mendelian studies identified a causal relationship between renal function, as assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and severe infection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, much is still unknown because of the limited number of associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of COVID-19 and the lack of cystatin C testing. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to determine the genetic mechanisms responsible for the association between eGFR and COVID-19 in a European population. Methods We performed bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis on large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) data; log-eGFR was calculated from the serum levels of creatinine or cystatin C by applying the Chronic Kidney Disease Genetics (CKDGen) Meta-analysis Dataset combined with the UK Biobank (N = 1,004,040) and on COVID-19 phenotypes (122,616 COVID-19 cases and 2,475,240 controls) from COVID19-hg GWAS meta-analyses round 7. The inverse-variance weighted method was used as the main method for estimation. Results Analyses showed that the genetically instrumented reduced log-eGFR, as calculated from the serum levels of creatinine, was associated with a significantly higher risk of severe COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR]: 2.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38–5.41, P < 0.05) and significantly related to COVID-19 hospitalization (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.39–4.00, P < 0.05) or infection (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01–1.53, P < 0.05). The significance of these associations remained when using log-eGFR based on the serum levels of cystatin C as genetically instrumented. However, genetically instrumented COVID-19, regardless of phenotype, was not related to log-eGFR, as calculated by either the serum levels of creatinine or cystatin C. Conclusions Our findings suggest that genetical predisposition to reduced kidney function may represent a risk factor for COVID-19. However, a consistent and significant effect of COVID-19 on kidney function was not identified in this study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:39:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-86315aed9de14dbaaede3ddbc9adefe0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2369 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:39:32Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nephrology |
| spelling | doaj.art-86315aed9de14dbaaede3ddbc9adefe02024-01-21T12:13:34ZengBMCBMC Nephrology1471-23692024-01-012511910.1186/s12882-023-03443-4The causal relationship between COVID-19 and estimated glomerular filtration rate: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization studyQiuling Li0Mengjiao Lin1Yinghui Deng2Haozhang Huang3Department of Nephrology, Blood Purification Center, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical SciencesDepartment of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical SciencesDepartment of Cardiology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Academy of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Previous Mendelian studies identified a causal relationship between renal function, as assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and severe infection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, much is still unknown because of the limited number of associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of COVID-19 and the lack of cystatin C testing. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to determine the genetic mechanisms responsible for the association between eGFR and COVID-19 in a European population. Methods We performed bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis on large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) data; log-eGFR was calculated from the serum levels of creatinine or cystatin C by applying the Chronic Kidney Disease Genetics (CKDGen) Meta-analysis Dataset combined with the UK Biobank (N = 1,004,040) and on COVID-19 phenotypes (122,616 COVID-19 cases and 2,475,240 controls) from COVID19-hg GWAS meta-analyses round 7. The inverse-variance weighted method was used as the main method for estimation. Results Analyses showed that the genetically instrumented reduced log-eGFR, as calculated from the serum levels of creatinine, was associated with a significantly higher risk of severe COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR]: 2.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38–5.41, P < 0.05) and significantly related to COVID-19 hospitalization (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.39–4.00, P < 0.05) or infection (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01–1.53, P < 0.05). The significance of these associations remained when using log-eGFR based on the serum levels of cystatin C as genetically instrumented. However, genetically instrumented COVID-19, regardless of phenotype, was not related to log-eGFR, as calculated by either the serum levels of creatinine or cystatin C. Conclusions Our findings suggest that genetical predisposition to reduced kidney function may represent a risk factor for COVID-19. However, a consistent and significant effect of COVID-19 on kidney function was not identified in this study.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-023-03443-4Mendelian randomizationCoronavirus Disease 2019Estimated glomerular filtration rateKidney functionSingle nucleotide polymorphism |
| spellingShingle | Qiuling Li Mengjiao Lin Yinghui Deng Haozhang Huang The causal relationship between COVID-19 and estimated glomerular filtration rate: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study BMC Nephrology Mendelian randomization Coronavirus Disease 2019 Estimated glomerular filtration rate Kidney function Single nucleotide polymorphism |
| title | The causal relationship between COVID-19 and estimated glomerular filtration rate: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study |
| title_full | The causal relationship between COVID-19 and estimated glomerular filtration rate: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study |
| title_fullStr | The causal relationship between COVID-19 and estimated glomerular filtration rate: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The causal relationship between COVID-19 and estimated glomerular filtration rate: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study |
| title_short | The causal relationship between COVID-19 and estimated glomerular filtration rate: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study |
| title_sort | causal relationship between covid 19 and estimated glomerular filtration rate a bidirectional mendelian randomization study |
| topic | Mendelian randomization Coronavirus Disease 2019 Estimated glomerular filtration rate Kidney function Single nucleotide polymorphism |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-023-03443-4 |
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