Check out what's clicking on with a certain genetic variant that puts them at increased risk of sudden cardiac death -- along with socioeconomic and cultural factors -- could contribute to the racial health disparities seen among COVID-19 victims.

NEW COVID-19 'MOUSE MODEL' CAN SPEED THE SEARCH FOR DRUGS AND VACCINES, RESEARCHERS SAY

"The African-specific p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A common ion channel variant is a reasonable place to start, as its proarrhythmic potential is awakened by risk factors observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients - namely, hypoxemia, electrolyte abnormalities, and QT-prolonging drug use," he said in a statement.

Scientists say that the hypoxia seen in many COVID-19 patients raises a concern that p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A could produce a similar, African-American susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death from the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

However, investigators admit that it remains to be seen whether population-specific genetic risk factors are contributing to the spike in sudden deaths and racial health disparities observed in COVID-19 epicenters.

"The genetic variant p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A, is a potentially proarrhythmic, sudden cardiac death marker for African Americans, and seeking its presence and respecting it is long overdue," explained senior author and genetic cardiologist Michael J. Ackerman, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, at the Mayo Clinic.

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