Dataset Information

Genome-wide association study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the United Arab Emirates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The heterogeneity in symptomatology and phenotypic profile attributable to COVID-19 is widely unknown. The objective of this manuscript is to conduct a trans-ancestry genome wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of COVID-19 severity to improve the understanding of potentially causal targets for SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

This cross-sectional study recruited 646 participants in the UAE that were divided into two phenotypic groups based on the severity of COVID-19 phenotypes, hospitalized (n=482) and non-hospitalized (n=164) participants. Hospitalized participants were COVID-19 patients that developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia or progression to respiratory failure that required supplemental oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation support or had severe complications such as septic shock or multi-organ failure. We conducted a trans-ancestry meta-analysis GWAS of European (n=302), American (n=102), South Asian (n=99), and East Asian (n=107) ancestry populations. We also carried out comprehensive post-GWAS analysis, including enrichment of SNP associations in tissues and cell-types, expression quantitative trait loci and differential expression analysis.

Findings

Eight genes demonstrated a strong association signal: VWA8 gene in locus 13p14·11 (SNP rs10507497; p=9·54 x10^-7), PDE8B gene in locus 5q13·3 (SNP rs7715119; p=2·19 x10^-6), CTSC gene in locus 11q14·2 (rs72953026; p=2·38 x10^-6), THSD7B gene in locus 2q22·1 (rs7605851; p=3·07x10^-6), STK39 gene in locus 2q24·3 (rs7595310; p=4·55 x10^-6), FBXO34 gene in locus 14q22·3 (rs10140801; p=8·26 x10^-6), RPL6P27 gene in locus 18p11·31 (rs11659676; p=8·88 x10^-6), and METTL21C gene in locus 13q33·1 (rs599976; p=8·95 x10^-6). The genes are expressed in the lung, associated to tumour progression, emphysema, airway obstruction, and surface tension within the lung, as well as an association to T-cell-mediated inflammation and the production of inflammatory cytokines.

Interpretation

We have discovered eight highly plausible genetic association with hospitalized cases in COVID-19. Further studies must be conducted on worldwide population genetics to facilitate the development of population specific therapeutics to mitigate this worldwide challenge.

Funding

This review was commissioned as part of a project to study the host cell receptors of coronaviruses funded by Khalifa University's CPRA grant (Reference number 2020-004).

SUBMITTER: Mousa M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8587122 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic impacted the psychosocial well-being of the United Arab Emirates [UAE] population like other communities internationally.ObjectivesWe aimed to identify the factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping amongst community members across the UAE.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional online survey across the UAE during November 2020. Adults aged ≥18 years, living in the UAE who were able to respond to an online questionnaire in English or Arabic were considered eligible to participate in the study. We used standard validated tools to measure psychological distress, fear and coping. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K10] was used to assess psychological distress, Fear of COVID-19 Scale [FCV-19S] was used to assess the level of fear, and Brief Resilient Coping Scale [BRCS] was used to assess the coping strategies.ResultsA total of 417 individuals participated in this study with a mean age of 29 [± 10.7] years. More than half of the participants experienced high to very high levels of psychological distress [55%] and a quarter experienced high levels of fear of COVID-19 [23.3%] with almost a third of them [36.2%] having low resilient coping. About 37.4% of the participants had work-related mental health impacts and 32.4% were perceived to have moderate to a great deal of distress due to a change of employment status during the pandemic. One in ten participants [9.4%] reported increased smoking. Increased smoking [AOR 8.66, 95% CIs 1.08-69.1,], increased alcohol drinking [AOR 2.39, 95% CIs 1.05-5.47] and higher levels of fear of COVID-19 [AOR 2.93, 95% CIs 1.83-4.67] were associated with moderate to very high levels of psychological distress. Being female [AOR 1.82, p = 0.030], having a pre-existing mental health condition [AOR 9.88, 95% p = 0.027], engaging in high-risk behaviors such as increased smoking [AOR 21.14, p = 0.003], increased alcohol drinking [AOR 1.48, p = 0.359] in the previous four weeks, and higher levels of fear of COVID-19 [AOR 4.18, p <0.001] were associated with moderate to very high levels of psychological distress. Also, being a smoker [AOR, 0.840, p = 0.011], and having a high level of fear [AOR 0.372, p = 0.001] were found to be associated with low resilient coping.ConclusionCommunity members in the UAE are at a higher risk of psychosocial distress and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, healthcare providers and policymakers would need to be more alert to provide specific mental health support strategies for their wellbeing.

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