Journal of Shandong University (Health Sciences) ›› 2021, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (7): 104-111.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1671-7554.0.2021.0241

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Causal influence of lung function on risk of fatality of COVID-19: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

YANG Xuan, LI Yanzhi, MA Wei, JIA Chongqi   

  1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
  • Online:2021-07-10 Published:2021-07-16

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Abstract: Objective To investigate whether lung function was causally associated with risk of fatality of COVID-19 based on a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Methods This two-sample Mendelian randomization study used summary-level datasets of genome-wide association studies(GWAS)of forced vital capacity(FVC)and risk of fatality of COVID-19 from the UK Biobank. Inverse-variance weighted(IVW), MR-Egger regression, and weighted median estimator(WME)were conducted to investigate the association of lung function with risk of fatality of COVID-19, in which the OR values were used as indicators. Results A total of 287 single nucleotide polymorphisms were enrolled as instrumental variables. Statistically significant directional pleiotropy was not found(P=0.107). IVW regression demonstrated that per 1 elevated SD of FVC resulted in decreasing 62% of fatality risk in COVID-19 patients(OR=0.38, 95%CI: 0.18-0.80). MR-Egger regression also obtained a similar effect(OR=0.08, 95%CI: 0.01-0.61). WME analysis showed no significant association of FVC with risk of fatality of COVID-19(OR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.14-1.42). Conclusion Lung function might be negatively related to risk of fatality of COVID-19.

Key words: Mendelian randomization, Lung function, COVID-19, Causality inference

CLC Number: 

  • R563.1
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