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Estimating the heritability of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity

Author

Listed:
  • Kathleen LaRow Brown

    (Columbia University)

  • Vijendra Ramlall

    (Columbia University
    Columbia University)

  • Michael Zietz

    (Columbia University)

  • Undina Gisladottir

    (Columbia University)

  • Nicholas P. Tatonetti

    (Columbia University
    Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
    Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 340 million people, prompting therapeutic research. While genetic studies can highlight potential drug targets, understanding the heritability of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity can contextualize their results. To date, loci from meta-analyses explain 1.2% and 5.8% of variation in susceptibility and severity respectively. Here we estimate the importance of shared environment and additive genetic variation to SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity using pedigree data, PCR results, and hospitalization information. The relative importance of genetics and shared environment for susceptibility shifted during the study, with heritability ranging from 33% (95% CI: 20%-46%) to 70% (95% CI: 63%-74%). Heritability was greater for days hospitalized with COVID-19 (41%, 95% CI: 33%-57%) compared to shared environment (33%, 95% CI: 24%-38%). While our estimates suggest these genetic architectures are not fully understood, the shift in susceptibility estimates highlights the challenge of estimation during a pandemic, given environmental fluctuations and vaccine introduction.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathleen LaRow Brown & Vijendra Ramlall & Michael Zietz & Undina Gisladottir & Nicholas P. Tatonetti, 2024. "Estimating the heritability of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-44250-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44250-7
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