Genetic link to Covid-19’s impact may explain why BAME patients worst hit

‘It is possible that genetic variants in, for example, Asian people could play a role in the susceptibility and severity of the disease’

GENES determine how badly people suffer from coronavirus, according to a study that could explain why ethnic minority patients are worse affected.

The research by King’s College London (KCL) also suggests that genetic make-up may influence a person’s chances of catching the virus in the first place.

The findings come from data submitted to a symptom tracking app that has been downloaded by 2.7million people since it was launched on March 24 and an existing study comprising 2,600 twins. They indicate that genes are about 50 per cent responsible for how badly infected people suffer from certain symptoms.

In particular, the data showed a strong genetic link to delirium, fever, fatigue, shortness of breath, diarrhoea and loss of taste and smell.

NHS England figures released last week confirmed that black, Asian and minority ethnic patients face a disproportionately high risk of death from

Covid-19. Of the patients in hospital who tested positive up to April 17, 16.2 per cent were of BAME background, despite these communities making up only 13 per cent of the population.

Those who identified themselves as being of Indian heritage made up the single worst-affected group, accounting for three per cent of Covid-19 hospital deaths, with those from the Caribbean the next largest group, accounting for 2.9 per cent.

Prof Tim Spector, who led the KCL research, said this could be either because some of these groups are more likely to suffer from underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, which increases the risk from the virus, or down to a more direct genetic predisposition.

“We’ve only started asking about race in the last few days,” he said. “It’s quite possible that genetic variants in, for example, Asian people could play a role in both the susceptibility and severity of the disease. However, that won’t be the whole answer.”

It is hoped these findings could provide scientists with an indication on how to go about developing treatments, as well as helping to identify high-risk groups.

Prof Spector suggested that people’s diet and, in turn, the health of their microbiome, linked to the immune system, could be influencing how susceptible people are to Covid-19. He said this could explain why poorer neighbourhoods appear worse hit.

The Covid-19 Symptom Tracker app is helping to inform scientists about the virus’s progression. It has been downloaded by 2.7 million people, though the number actually using it fell by 75 per cent earlier this month.

However, an analysis of the data suggests coronavirus lockdown is working, with the number of UK people aged 20-69 who are reporting symptoms falling from 1.9million to 1.4million.

“The peak in terms of symptoms was April 1, then falling at about seven per cent a day,” said Prof Spector.