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Peripheral blood indicators and COVID-19: an observational and bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


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Authors

Chang, Zhenglin 
Wang, Suilin 
Liu, Kemin 
Lin, Runpei 
Liu, Changlian 

Abstract

Blood is critical for health, supporting key functions like immunity and oxygen transport. While studies have found links between common blood clinical indicators and COVID-19, they cannot provide causal inference due to residual confounding and reverse causality. To identify indicators affecting COVID-19, we analyzed clinical data (n = 2,293, aged 18-65 years) from Guangzhou Medical University's first affiliated hospital (2022-present), identifying 34 significant indicators differentiating COVID-19 patients from healthy controls. Utilizing bidirectional Mendelian randomization analyses, integrating data from over 2.46 million participants from various large-scale studies, we established causal links for six blood indicators with COVID-19 risk, five of which is consistent with our observational findings. Specifically, elevated Troponin I and Platelet Distribution Width levels are linked with increased COVID-19 susceptibility, whereas higher Hematocrit, Hemoglobin, and Neutrophil counts confer a protective effect. Reverse MR analysis confirmed four blood biomarkers influenced by COVID-19, aligning with our observational data for three of them. Notably, COVID-19 exhibited a positive causal relationship with Troponin I (Tnl) and Serum Amyloid Protein A, while a negative association was observed with Plateletcrit. These findings may help identify high-risk individuals and provide further direction on the management of COVID-19.

Description

Acknowledgements: Not applicable.

Keywords

Body fluids, COVID-19, Clinical indicators, Mendelian randomization, Humans, Mendelian Randomization Analysis, Troponin I, COVID-19, Genome-Wide Association Study

Journal Title

BMC Med Genomics

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1755-8794
1755-8794

Volume Title

17

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Guangzhou Laboratory Emergency Research Project (EKPG21-302)
Zhong Nanshan Medical Foundation of Guangdong Province (ZNSXS-20220015)
GuangDong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021B1515230008)