The causal effects of COVID-19 on chronic pancreatitis: a mendelian randomization study-quality improvement study

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, mainly manifested with respiratory symptoms, but also showed multiple organ involvement, such as the pancreas. Recently, reports have emphasized the potential causal link between COVID-19 and acute pancreatitis. In this study, we aim to study the genetic underpinnings of the association between COVID-19 and chronic pancreatitis by Mendelian Randomization (MR) and Multivariate Mendelian Randomization (MVMR) analysis. Methods We utilized genome-wide association study(GWAS) data for traits related to COVID-19 and chronic pancreatitis, including smoking, drinking, diabetes, cholelithiasis, and triglycerides. Two-sample MR and MVMR analyses were performed to explore the association of COVID-19 on chronic pancreatitis. Results: Our MR analysis revealed a significant correlation between COVID-19 and chronic pancreatitis.And the MVMR analysis further supported these findings, indicating an independent and significant association between COVID-19 and chronic pancreatitis. Furtheremore, sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these results. Conclusion: This MR study provides genetic evidence of a causal association between COVID-19 susceptibility and increased risk of chronic pancreatitis. These findings provide new insights into the complex relationship between COVID-19 and chronic pancreatitis, and emphasize the importance of considering systemic effects related to COVID-19 susceptibility when understanding the etiology of chronic pancreatitis.