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Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Extracellular Glucose Depletion as an Indirect Measure of Glucose Uptake in Cells and Tissues Ex Vivo
Published on: April 6, 2022
Is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency associated with COVID-19 infection, severity, and death? A cohort
Adila L B Dias1,2, Joabi Rocha Nascimento1, José Diego Brito-Sousa1,3
1Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil.
Background:
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) is a common genetic disorder that impairs the cellular antioxidant response and has been hypothesized as a potential risk factor for severe outcomes in viral infections, including COVID-19. However, clinical evidence remains limited, especially in regions with high G6PDd prevalence.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study using secondary data from four health information systems from health facilities in the Brazilian Amazon (E-SUS Notifica, SIVEP-Gripe, SIM, and a G6PD enzyme activity database). The study population consisted of 3,955 male participants, including 206 with confirmed G6PDd. We used logistic regression to assess associations between G6PDd and COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death. Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier curves were applied to evaluate time-to-event outcomes.
Results:
No statistically significant association was found between G6PDd and SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 0.70-1.79; p = 0.6), hospitalization (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 0.27-3.20; p = 0.8), or death (OR = 0.00; p > 0.9). Age was a significant risk factor for all outcomes, and individuals identified as Asian had a higher likelihood of infection (OR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.57-5.29; p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
In this cohort from the Brazilian Amazon, G6PD deficiency was not associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection or severe outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of considering ethnic and genetic diversity in epidemiological analyses and health policy planning, particularly in regions with high G6PDd prevalence.
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