Critical insights on "Association of the C allele of rs479200 in the EGLN1 gene with COVID­19 severity in Indian population: a novel finding".

ABSTRACT

The recent article by Harit et al. in Human Genomics reported a novel association of the C allele of rs479200 in the human EGLN1 gene with severe COVID-19 in Indian patients. The gene in context is an oxygen-sensor gene whose T allele has been reported to contribute to the inability to cope with hypoxia due to increased expression of the EGLN1 gene and therefore persons with TT genotype of EGLN1 rs479200 are more susceptible to severe manifestations of hypoxia. In contrast to this dogma, Harit et al. showed that the C allele is associated with the worsening of COVID-19 hypoxia without suggesting or even discussing the scientific plausibility of the association. The article also suffers from certain epidemiological, statistical, and mathematical issues that need to be critically elaborated and discussed. In this context, the findings of Harit et al. may be re-evaluated.