Identification of Microarn Biomarkers of Prognosis in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Positive for Sars-Cov-2 Variant Delta and Omicron in Nasopharyngeal Secretions in Pointe Noire

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the whole world, with a particularly high and severe incidence in patients with co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Detection of microRNAs in human samples may be an alternative to identify effective biomarkers for COVID-19 severity. Methods: We recruited a total of 206 participants for this study. MicroRNA and variant analysis were performed on nasopharyngeal samples using qPCR. The study consisted of the detection of 17 microRNAs. Results: The majority of individuals with the Delta variant (68.18%, n=90) had severe symptoms while individuals with the Omicron variant had moderate symptoms (76.47%, n=13). The microRNAs hsa-miR-29a-5p (AUC 0.80; CI 0.68 to 0.89 and p<0.000), hsa-miR-203a-5p (AUC 0.80; CI 0.75 to 0.92 and p<0. 000), and hsa- hsa-miR-221-3p (AUC 0.74; CI 0.61 to 0.86 and p<0.000), hsa-miR-33b-5p (AUC 0.88; CI 0.75 to 0.98 and p<0. 000) and hsa-miR-30d-3p (AUC 0.82; CI 0.70 to 0.95 and p<0.000) have AUCs that indicate a good discriminatory ability to stratify patients at high risk of complications from COVID-19 variant omicron among T2DM. Conclusion: Our study shows that the microRNAs hsa-miR-29a-5p, hsa-miR-203a-5p, and hsa-miR-221-3p, hsa-miR-33b-5p and hsa-miR-30d-3p have better discrimination and could be used as prognostic biomarkers in nasopharyngeal secretions from COVID-19 variant omicron patients with type 2 diabetes. They could also serve as new therapeutic targets.