Polish researchers have found a gene that more than doubles the risk of serious illness from Covid-19. They hope their discovery can help doctors better detect at-risk patients and encourage them to get vaccinated.
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Vaccination rates are very low in Central and Eastern Europe, causing more corona patients to die. The discovery by Polish scientists at the University of Bialystok could indicate to patients that they are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, which should convince them to get vaccinated after all. And if they do become infected, more intensive treatment would be possible.
The gene in question is said to be the fourth most important factor in a serious course of Covid-19 disease, after age, weight and gender. The gene, according to study leader Marcin Moniuszko, is present in about 14 percent of the Polish population and in 8 to 9 percent of all Europeans. In India this is 27 percent of the population.
Other studies have also shown the importance of genetic factors in determining the severity of the disease course of Covid-19. In November, British scientists discovered a gene that is believed to be responsible for a doubling of the risk of lung failure from Covid-19.
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