"Serum Calcium in Relation to COVID-19 in Asian Population: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study"

Abstract

To explore the causal relationship between serum calcium concentration and the risk of COVID-19 in Asian population, this study apply the analysis method of two samples of Mendelian randomization to demonstrate. Methods: Through literature search, the summary statistic data of the whole gene association study (GWAS) related to serum calcium concentration was obtained, and this data was subjected to secondary data analysis. From the large-sample GWAS summary data, the genetic variation closely related to the serum calcium concentration was selected as an instrumental variable. Five models (Inverse variance weighted, MR Egger, Weighted median, Simple mode and Weighted mode) were used for analyzing and evaluating the causal relationship between serum calcium concentration and the risk of COVID-19 with OR value and 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 8 SNPs were included as instrumental variables in this study. The results of gene pleiotropy test showed that there was no gene pleiotropy (P = 0.54). The IVW results showed that each increase in serum calcium concentration by one standard deviation would reduce the risk of COVID-19 (OR=0.01, 95%CI: 0.0001-0.73, P=0.03). Conclusion: Appropriate supplementation of serum calcium concentration can help prevent the onset of COVID-19.