Kennedys Disease Community
COVID-19

This topic can be found at:
https://kennedysdisease.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1057066686/m/2407094496

09-28-2020, 12:57 PM
Istvan
COVID-19
I already knew that COVID-19 may more threat us KD patients, because of severe respiratory impairment. Moreover, diabetes which relates to KD, also an important risk factor for COVID-19.
However, I am afraid, that our risk may be significantly bigger.
They conducted a prospective study of 65 hospitalized COVID-19 males, and categorized them in two groups, according to their CAG length. 48% of them had CAG shorter than 22 (average 68 years old). The median duration of their hospitalization time was 25 days, and 45% of them admitted to intensive care. Patients with CAG repeats equal to or longer than 22 (52%), was average 65 years old. The duration of hospitalization was 47,5 days and 70% of them admitted to intensive care. The differences were statistically significant. The relative risk of hospitalization was about three times higher if a patient has more then 22 CAG repeats.
My comments:
1. They didn’t compare fatality rates.
2. They didn’t investigate the longer CAG repeats (let’s say >35), but 22 CAG repeats sound pretty low to me (compared to my 46). However, there is currently no evidence of a linear relationship between CAG repeats and COVID-19 severity.
3. There are some data, that prostate cancer patients who are on androgen deprivation therapy, are less affected by COVID-19. The only one registered drug against KD (in Japan only) is an antiandrogen.
In conclusion: be more, more careful with this beast. It is very dangerous in itself, but we may in even higher risk.
09-28-2020, 03:34 PM
ToddAllen
Istvan, thanks for the interesting report. Do you have the title of the study?
10-01-2020, 10:49 AM
Istvan
Sorry about that. Here are the references.

The study about higher risk:
McCoy J, Wambier CG, Herrera S, et al. Androgen Receptor Genetic Variant Predicts COVID-19 Disease Severity: A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Hospitalized COVID-19 Male Patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020 Sep 25. doi: 10.1111/jdv.16956
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.co...df/10.1111/jdv.16956 (Formally it is a letter to the editor.)

And the other one, about the protective effect of antiandrogens (same workgroup):
Goren A, Wambier CG, Herrera S, et al. Anti-androgens may protect against severe COVID-19 outcomes: results from a prospective cohort study of 77 hospitalized men. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020 Sep 25. doi: 10.1111/jdv.16953 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.co...df/10.1111/jdv.16953
10-02-2020, 03:37 PM
ToddAllen
Istvan, thanks for the references!

Although it isn't good news. Maybe the studies are too small or that they only looked at the threshhold of 22 CAG repeats means this isn't relevant for us... But I wouldn't want to bet my life on it.