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Cancers and COVID-19 Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Study.
Zengbin Li1, Yudong Wei1, Guixian Zhu1
1China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an 710061, China.
Cancers
|May 14, 2022
Summary
This study used Mendelian randomization to investigate if cancer causes increased COVID-19 risk. Results indicate no causal link between overall or site-specific cancers and COVID-19 severity, hospitalization, or susceptibility.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- Observational studies suggest a link between cancer and increased COVID-19 risk.
- Causality has not been established, necessitating robust analytical methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal associations between various cancers and COVID-19 outcomes.
- To utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) to overcome confounding factors present in observational studies.
Main Methods:
- Employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, a method using genetic variants to infer causality.
- Utilized the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary analytical approach.
- Conducted sensitivity and multivariable MR analyses for robust validation.
Main Results:
- Univariable MR analysis showed no statistically significant causal association between overall cancer and COVID-19 severity, hospitalization, or susceptibility.
- Twelve site-specific cancers, including lung, breast, and colorectal cancers, also demonstrated no causal link to adverse COVID-19 outcomes.
- Sensitivity and multivariable MR analyses corroborated the primary findings, reinforcing the lack of a causal relationship.
Conclusions:
- Cancer may not have a causal effect on increasing the risk or severity of COVID-19.
- Further large-scale population studies are recommended to validate these findings and enhance understanding.
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