Genetic Variant Provides COVID-19 Protection for Men Under 75, Study Finds

A recent genetic analysis has revealed that a certain variant of an anti-inflammatory gene provides protection against severe illness and death from COVID-19 for men under the age of 75. The study focused on the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) variant, specifically the rs419598 variant, and found that men between the ages of 19 and 74 who possessed the IL1RN variant were significantly less likely to experience severe illness after hospitalization for COVID-19, with an 80 percent lower likelihood of succumbing to the disease. The research sheds light on the genetic factors that influence the severity of COVID-19 and could potentially pave the way for targeted treatments and interventions for at-risk individuals.