Association of OCT1 (rs628031) With COVID-19 Severity in Diabetic Individuals
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Abstract
Background: The surge in blood glucose levels in COVID-19 patients has been linked to worse outcomes, as hyperglycemia may aid SARS-CoV-2 entry. Acute hyperglycemia caused complications like kidney failure, liver dysfunction, and increased infection risk, especially in diabetic COVID-19 patients which was validated by deranged biochemical parameters. Metformin, an antidiabetic drug with anti-inflammatory properties, has been beneficial to COVID-19 patients. The organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) polymorphism, rs628031, may influence metformin efficacy, but its role in severity of diabetic COVID-19 patients remains unclear. Thus, this study explored the link between OCT1 (rs628031), biochemical markers, and COVID-19 severity in diabetic individuals.
Materials and Methods: We collected 50 diabetic COVID-19 patients’ (RT-PCR confirmed) blood samples (17 mild, 33 severe) with their consent, from Era’s Medical College and Hospital (ELMC&H), Lucknow. Biochemical analysis was performed at hospital lab services (HLS), ELMC&H, and results were noted from hospital records. Genotyping of OCT1 (rs628031) was performed by PCR-RFLP and validated by Sanger sequencing followed by statistical analysis.
Results: Our study did not find any association between allele or genotype frequencies of OCT1 rs628031 among mild and severe patients. Additionally, we found that patients with higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (p = 0.011) and blood urea (p = 0.012), as well as lower total protein (p = 0.007) and serum albumin (p = 0.05) levels were more prone to severity in diabetic COVID-19 patients.
Clinical Significance: Biomarkers not only help in early screening of disease and its severity but also aid in better patient management. Thus, some potent biomarkers must be discovered so that timely intervention may be provided and severity of infections like COVID-19 can be prevented.
Conclusion: In conclusion, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), blood urea, total protein, and serum albumin levels may serve as biomarkers for the severity of COVID-19 or related infections; however, further studies on larger cohorts may yield significant results.
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