Approved Research

The Role of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in susceptibility and severity of Post-Covid Complications

Lay summary

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have discovered important genetic variants in humans that affect how their immune system responds to the virus. Some of these genetic variants are consistently linked to how severe COVID-19 can be. As a result, polygenic risk scores were created, assisting medical professionals and researchers in gauging an individual's likelihood of experiencing severe COVID-19. This has the dual benefit of increasing diagnostic precision and enhancing treatment outcomes.

Nonetheless, a significant knowledge gap persists in our understanding of the genetic factors that influence both susceptibility to and severity of Long Covid in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. This knowledge gap has endured due to the complex nature of Long Covid symptoms and variations in its definition during the early stages of the pandemic. Fortunately, with the clarified definition and the growing body of data, our objective is to establish a link between genomic variations and the Long COVID syndrome. We anticipate that these findings will contribute to enhanced diagnostic and treatment strategies for Long COVID patients. The research project is anticipated to span three years.

We hope that our findings can help policymakers make decisions based on evidence, allocate resources effectively, and plan for health challenges that come after the pandemic. Clinicians and scientists may also benefit from having a more thorough understanding regarding the association between genomic makeup and post-acute COVID complications, and the general public may have a better way to identify their risk, make informed choices, and get improved diagnoses and treatments. In conclusion, our study is a substantial step toward comprehensively and efficiently addressing Long Covid, benefiting various groups in the process.