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Semiautomated Longitudinal Microcomputed Tomography-based Quantitative Structural Analysis of a Nude Rat Osteoporosis-related Vertebral Fracture Model
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Causal relationships between COVID-19 and osteoporosis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study in European

Kai Zhang1, Wei Shi1, Xinglong Zhang1,2

  • 1Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Frontiers in Public Health
|June 9, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study found no genetic link between COVID-19 severity and osteoporosis. Mendelian randomization analysis indicates that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection does not cause osteoporosis.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • The relationship between Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and osteoporosis (OP) requires further investigation.
  • Understanding this link is crucial for managing long-term health consequences of COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential causal effect of COVID-19 severity on osteoporosis.
  • To assess whether genetic predisposition to severe COVID-19 influences osteoporosis risk.

Main Methods:

  • A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was employed.
  • Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for COVID-19 severity and osteoporosis were utilized.
  • Inverse variance weighting (IVW) and complementary MR methods were used, with sensitivity analyses for robustness.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant causal relationship was found between COVID-19 severity (including SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization, and severe disease) and osteoporosis.
  • Consistent results were observed across primary and sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger regression and weighted median methods.
  • The study found no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy or instrument heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest the absence of a genetic causal link between COVID-19 severity and osteoporosis.
  • Further research may be needed to explore other potential non-genetic pathways.
  • This study contributes to understanding the complex interplay between viral infections and bone health.
Abstract

Keywords:
Mendelian randomizationcausal effectcoronavirus disease 2019geneticosteoporosis

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