tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Gen Psychiatr
. 2023 Apr 5;36(2):e101006.
doi: 10.1136/gpsych-2022-101006. eCollection 2023.
Causal associations between major depressive disorder and COVID-19
Ancha Baranova[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Yi Zhao[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Hongbao Cao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fuquan Zhang[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: We aimed to evaluate whether major depressive disorder (MDD) could aggravate the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or whether the genetic liability to COVID-19 could trigger MDD.
Aims: We aimed to assess bidirectional causal associations between MDD and COVID-19.
Methods: We performed genetic correlation and Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses to assess potential associations between MDD and three COVID-19 outcomes. Literature-based network analysis was conducted to construct molecular pathways connecting MDD and COVID-19.
Results: We found that MDD has positive genetic correlations with COVID-19 outcomes (r[SUB]g[/SUB]: 0.10-0.15). Our MR analysis indicated that genetic liability to MDD is associated with increased risks of COVID-19 infection (odds ratio (OR)=1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00 to 1.10, p=0.039). However, genetic liability to the three COVID-19 outcomes did not confer any causal effects on MDD. Pathway analysis identified a panel of immunity-related genes that may mediate the links between MDD and COVID-19.
Conclusions: Our study suggests that MDD may increase the susceptibility to COVID-19. Our findings emphasise the need to increase social support and improve mental health intervention networks for people with mood disorders during the pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19; Mendelian randomization analysis; depression; depressive disorder, major; genetics, behavioral.
. 2023 Apr 5;36(2):e101006.
doi: 10.1136/gpsych-2022-101006. eCollection 2023.
Causal associations between major depressive disorder and COVID-19
Ancha Baranova[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Yi Zhao[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Hongbao Cao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fuquan Zhang[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37066117
- PMCID: PMC10083530
- DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2022-101006
Abstract
Background: We aimed to evaluate whether major depressive disorder (MDD) could aggravate the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or whether the genetic liability to COVID-19 could trigger MDD.
Aims: We aimed to assess bidirectional causal associations between MDD and COVID-19.
Methods: We performed genetic correlation and Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses to assess potential associations between MDD and three COVID-19 outcomes. Literature-based network analysis was conducted to construct molecular pathways connecting MDD and COVID-19.
Results: We found that MDD has positive genetic correlations with COVID-19 outcomes (r[SUB]g[/SUB]: 0.10-0.15). Our MR analysis indicated that genetic liability to MDD is associated with increased risks of COVID-19 infection (odds ratio (OR)=1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00 to 1.10, p=0.039). However, genetic liability to the three COVID-19 outcomes did not confer any causal effects on MDD. Pathway analysis identified a panel of immunity-related genes that may mediate the links between MDD and COVID-19.
Conclusions: Our study suggests that MDD may increase the susceptibility to COVID-19. Our findings emphasise the need to increase social support and improve mental health intervention networks for people with mood disorders during the pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19; Mendelian randomization analysis; depression; depressive disorder, major; genetics, behavioral.