Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 Genotype (ApoE rs429358—ApoE rs7412 Polymorphisms) Is Not Associated with Long COVID Symptoms in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors

Abstract

The role of genetics as a predisposing factor related to an increased risk of developing long COVID symptomatology is under debate. The aim of the current secondary analysis was to identify the association between the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene, a gene affecting cholesterol metabolism and previously associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, and the development of long COVID in a cohort of individuals who had been hospitalized by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from 287 previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors. Three genotypes of the ApoE gene (ApoE ε2, ε3, ε4) were obtained based on the combination of ApoE rs429358 and ApoE rs7412 polymorphisms. Participants were asked to self-report the presence of any post-COVID symptom in a face-to-face interview at 17.8 ± 5.2 months after hospital discharge and medical records were obtained. Each participant reported 3.0 (1.9) post-COVID symptoms. Overall, no significant differences in long COVID symptoms were observed depending on the ApoE genotype (ApoE ε2, ApoE ε3, ApoE ε4). The presence of the ApoE ε4 genotype, albeit associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, did not appear to predispose for the presence of long COVID in our cohort of previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors.