Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic has badly affected the world, having fatality rate
ranging from 1 to 10% that differs in various countries. The median
time from symptoms to clinical recovery is 6–8 weeks and to death is 2
to 8 weeks. Severity of disease and increasing mortality in COVID 19 is
primarily due to presence of comorbidities like cardiovascular disease,
pre-existing lungs disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cancer.
It is already known to us that humans show difference in drug responses
because of their varied genetic make-up. Population genomics furnish an
insight about genetic characteristic of a populations and it is critical
in determining susceptibility, severity and natural protection against
infectious diseases. Therefore, understanding the population genetic
makeup may be deemed necessary to identify those who are at risk or
protective from disease and develop genomics information, that would be
useful in providing insight about COVID‐19 disease severity or outcomes.
Some of the proposed genetic gateways in COVID 19 pathogenesis are
mentioned in this review including roles of ACE2 gene, HLA gene,
Chromosome 3P21.31, ABO locus, genes responsible for cytokine storm,
TLR-pathway, Family Mediterranean fever and G6PD deficiency. Significant
interindividual variability in response to drug therapy exists in
patients. This review also evaluates the current therapeutics in
COVID-19 like hydroxycholoroquine, azithromycin, RNA polymerase
inhibitors, interleukin inhibitors, antivirals, ivermectin, doxycyclin
and their pharmacogenomics viewpoint. Such Pharmacogenomic studies are
very helpful for the physicians to choose and give accurate first line
therapy for COVID 19 patients.