Huang QM et al. Genetic risk and COPD independently predict the risk of incident severe COVID-19

The questions below are based on the following article: Huang QM et al. Genetic risk and COPD independently predict the risk of incident severe COVID-19: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202102-171OC.

Calculate and interpret the odds ratio (OR) for the association between severe COVID-19 and COPD diagnosis in the study population using the data shown in the tables above. Is the OR a good approximation of relative risk in this case?

Now do the same for the association between severe COVID-19 and genetic risk (operationalized here as a ‘low’ or ‘high’ value of the polygenic risk score) in the study population using the data shown in the tables above. For questions 1 and 2, would you use the crude OR that you estimated, or additionally adjust it for potential confounders– if so, which ones?

What is the proportion of severe COVID-19 risk among the exposed that is attributable to genetics? Show your work and interpret your finding.

What is the proportion of severe COVID-19 risk among the exposed that is attributable to the COPD diagnosis? Show your work and interpret your finding.

Based on these data, which factor– genetics or COPD diagnosis– should public health professionals and clinicians focus on to identify individuals at a higher risk for developing severe COVID-19?