Study finds telomere length linked to risk of death from COVID-19

Shortened telomeres, a hallmark of aging, may affects the severity of COVID-19 and the risk of dying from the disease, especially in women

Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes (DNA) that shorten with lifespan, and the length of telomeres is often used to measure cell age [1]

In this study, researchers investigated the relationship between relative telomere length (RTL) at onset and COVID-19 in 608 adults hospitalized with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic (March-September 2020).

We estimated survival probabilities and used modeling to explore the association between RTL and mortality, taking into account patient characteristics, including age, sex, smoking status, and comorbidities (chronic kidney disease, chronic neurological disease, and tumors [ Abnormal [precancerous] growth cells, tissue in the body])

Overall, 533 patients survived (mean age 67, 58% male, 73% white, 24% Hispanic) and 75 died from COVID-19 (mean age 78, 67% male, 77% white and 21% Hispanic)

The analysis found that in all patients, relative telomere length was significantly inversely associated with death from COVID-19 30 and 90 days after discharge (meaning that shorter telomeres were associated with an increased risk of death, or longer telomeres were associated with death).

Further analyses stratified by age and sex showed that a longer RTL was associated with a 70% lower risk of dying from COVID-19 within 30 days and a 76% lower risk of dying from the disease within 90 days for all women

Likewise, in women 65 and older, longer RTL was associated with a 78% lower risk of death from COVID-19 within 30 days and an 81% lower risk of death within 90 days

However, there was no significant difference in relative telomere length between COVID-19 survivors and men who died from the disease

Dr Virseda Berdices said: "Our findings shed light on the association of telomere length with COVID-19 mortality and underscore the potential of telomere length as a predictor of mortality and severe outcomes, especially in older women

The authors acknowledge that the study is observational, cannot prove cause and effect, and was conducted during the first wave of the pandemic, which may limit the conclusions that can be drawn

COI Statement

Author declares no conflict of interest