Androgen receptor polyQ alleles and COVID-19 severity in men: a replication study (preprint)

Ample evidence indicates a sex-related difference in severity of COVID-19, with less favorable outcomes observed in men. Genetic factors have been proposed as candidates to explain this difference. The polyQ polymorphism in the androgen receptor gene has been recently described as a genetic biomarker of COVID-19 severity. In this study, we analyzed this association in a large cohort of 1136 men classified into three groups according to their degree of COVID-19 severity, finding a similar distribution of polyQ alleles among severity groups. Therefore, our results do not support the role of this polymorphism as a biomarker of COVID-19 severity.