Gut Microbiota Predicts the Risk of Future COVID-19 Hospitalization and Mortality: Insights From the Population-Based HELIUS Study
Gut microbiota are disrupted in patients hospitalized for COVID-19, with a loss of anaerobic bacteria-producing butyrate. Yet, these disruptions could either be a consequence of the infection itself or increase susceptibility from the outset. Here, we investigated whether gut microbiota influence the risk of future COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality. In 5084 participants of a population-based cohort, gut microbiota composition was associated with the risk of future severe COVID-19. Specifically, increased abundances of butyrate-producing bacteria were associated with a lower risk of severe COVID-19. Together, gut microbiota alterations precede severe COVID-19 and may represent a novel target for prevention.
Authors
- Bert‐Jan H. van den Born (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0943-4393)
- Brent Appelman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4560-8410)
- W. Joost Wiersinga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2277-1343)
- Max Nieuwdorp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1926-7659)
- Maria Prins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2967-0289)
- Robert F. J. Kullberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8269-9887)
- Henrike Galenkamp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5904-3465)
- Bastiaan W. Haak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3903-5441)
Institutions
- Biology of Infection (FR)
- Amsterdam Neuroscience (NL)
- Office of Infectious Diseases (US)
- GGD Amsterdam (NL)
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL)
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Published
- 2025-10-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaf541
- Primary Topic
- Gut microbiota and health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00