Association of the ACE and AGT gene polymorphisms with global disparities in COVID-19-related deaths

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the gene polymorphisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensinogen (AGT), and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) in association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality rates worldwide. MethodsThe prevalence of ACE I/D, AGT M235T, and AT1R A1166C alleles' frequencies in different populations was assessed. Data on COVID-19-related cases and deaths were acquired from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, which included weekly reports by country and continent. An Excel tool was developed to visualize the acquired data of mortality and incidence by classifying them by continent/country across specific periods of time. Spearman's nonparametric correlation was used to evaluate the association between country-based frequencies in RAS gene polymorphisms and COVID-19-related deaths. ResultsWhile China constituted the initial reservoir of COVID-19, incidence/mortality rates in Europe and America outnumbered the figures in the former. A clear association was identified between death rates and ACE D/I (r = 0.3659; P = 0.033), as well as AGT A/G variants (r = 0.7576; P = 0.015). Data on AT1R polymorphisms suggested no correlation with mortality rates. ConclusionOur results demonstrated a significant disparity in COVID-19-related susceptibility and mortality among different populations and corroborate the importance of gene polymorphisms in predicting and consequently improving patients' outcomes.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of ACE insertion/deletion variant on cardiometabolic profile, premature coronary artery disease and severity of coronary lesions

“…One particular reason could be proposed to interpret why the impacts of rs4646994 on PCAD and severity of coronary lesions were primarily signi cant in the Caucasians, but not Asians (Table 2). That is, Caucasians had a much higher carrying rate of rs4646994 D allele than Asians (Caucasians: average: 57.41%, range from 49.6-65.22%; Asians: average: 42.22%, range from 37.14-47.31%) [25,26]. Since the D allele of rs4646994 largely determined serum ACE levels [15] and thus linked to CAD [1,2] and atherosclerosis [3], an increasing number of D allele will no doubt increase the risk of PCAD and multiple vessel lesions.…”