THE COURSE OF COVID-19 IN PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA DEPENDS ON GLN27GLU ADRβ2 GENE POLYMORPHISM

Abstract

A large number of studies show conflicting results and point to multiple factors that may influence the course of COVID-19 in patients with asthma: severity asthma, phenotypes, genetic characteristics, underlying asthma therapy, and comorbidities. The aim of the study was to determine the course of Covid-19 in patients with asthma depending on the Gln27Glu polymorphism of the ADRB2 gene in the Ukrainian population. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> 553 patients with asthma were preliminarily examined and the distribution of ADRB2 genotypes was determined. Among these patients, 116 patients aged 18 to 70 suffered from mild, moderate and severe Covid-19. The diagnosis of asthma was established based on the GINA recommendations. The severity of Covid-19 is set according on the World Health Organization. <b>Results of the study.</b> Depending on the severity of Covid-19, patients with asthma were divided into 3 groups. Group I included 66 patients with a mild severity of Covid-19, group II − 33 patients with a moderate severity, and group III − 23 patients with a severe. After statistical processing of the data, the following frequencies of ADRB2 genotypes were obtained: in group I Gln27Gln-genotype − 93.9%, Gln27Glu-genotype − 6.1%, Glu27Glu-genotype − 0; in group II − 6.1%, 66.7%, 27.2%, respectively; and in group III − 5.9%, 11.8%, 82.3%, respectively. The obtained results indicate that the Gln27Gln- genotype was significantly more common in asthma patients with mild severity Covid-19, while the Glu27Glu-genotype was significantly more common in patients with severe Covid-19 (ꭓ2 121.5; p &lt; 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> A more severe course of Covid-19 in asthma patients is associated with the ADRB2 Glu27Glu-genotype.