Variation of Genomic Sites Associated with Severe Covid-19 Across Populations: Global and National Patterns.

BACKGROUND

Information about the distribution of clinically significant genetic markers in different populations may be helpful in elaborating personalized approaches to the clinical management of COVID-19 in the absence of consensus guidelines.

AIM

Analyze frequencies and distribution patterns of two markers associated with severe COVID-19 ( and ) and look for potential correlations between these markers and deaths from COVID-19 among populations in Russia and across the world.

METHODS

We genotyped 1883 samples from 91 ethnic groups pooled into 28 populations representing Russia and its neighbor states. We also compiled a dataset on 32 populations from other regions using genotypes extracted or imputed from the available databases. Geographic maps showing the frequency distribution of the analyzed markers were constructed using the obtained data.

RESULTS

The cartographic analysis revealed that distribution follows the West Eurasian pattern: the marker is frequent among the populations of Europe, West Asia and South Asia but rare or absent in all other parts of the globe. Notably, the transition from high to low frequencies across Eurasia is not abrupt but follows the clinal variation pattern instead. The distribution of is more homogeneous. The analysis of correlations between the frequencies of the studied markers and the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in a population revealed that higher frequencies of both risk alleles correlated positively with mortality from this disease. For , the correlation was especially strong (r = 0.59, = 0.02). These reasonable correlations were observed for the "Russian" dataset only: no such correlations were established for the "world" dataset. This could be attributed to the differences in methodology used to collect COVID-19 statistics in different countries.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that genetic differences between populations make a small yet tangible contribution to the heterogeneity of the pandemic worldwide.