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People who develop acid reflux may be more vulnerable to Covid-19, a Queensland study has found.
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute has discovered genes that can cause the digestive disease were linked with a 15 per cent increase in the risk of severe Covid-19 and hospitalisation.
Their study looked at genes predicted to cause gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), one of Australia's most common gastrointestinal conditions.
QIMR Berghofer researcher Dr Jue-Sheng Ong said observational studies had indicated an association between GORD and Covid-19 due to common risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
But Dr Ong said their study - published in the Human Molecular Genetics journal on Thursday - had made a direct link.
A Queensland study has found people who develop acid reflux may also be more vulnerable to Covid-19
