Association of blood groups on the risk of COVID 19 infection, morbidity and mortality

Abstract

T he novel coronavirus-19 disease due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 [1]. Since then, it has spread throughout the World with significant morbidity and mortality. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported COVID-19 as a pandemic and, over time, reported 110749023 confirmed cases of infection and 2455131 deaths until February 22, 2021 [2]. Due to the high morbidity and mortality associated withABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the effects of blood groups and Rh factor on the development of coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) with all aspects such as clinical course, inflammatory parameters, and organ-specific biochemical parameters with a significant number of patients.METHODS: This multicenter study was carried out retrospectively on 3551 patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 and whose blood groups were recorded during the time of hospitalization. As control groups, 22133 individuals' medical data who were admitted to the blood bank affiliated with our hospitals during the last year was used. The differences between the blood groups and clinical characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS:Of the 3551 patients, A Rh (+) blood group was found to be in a higher ratio in the case group than controls, with increased risk to be infected (case: 41.3% vs. control: 38.8%), (OR 1.113; 95% CI: 1.036-1.197; p=0.003). Meanwhile O Rh (+) blood group ratios were significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (case: 26% vs. control: 28.3%) (OR 0.862; 95% CI: 0.823-0.966; p=0.005). There was no significant difference between blood groups in terms of admission to the intensive care units and mortality, it was observed that patients with AB Rh (+) blood group have a greater risk for intubation than others (OR: 1.467; 95% CI: 1.040-2.071; p=0.028). CONCLUSION:We demonstrated that people with blood group A Rh (+) more susceptible to COVID-19, whereas blood group 0 Rh (+) have a protective effect against the infection. Once a person has been infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, we should be mindful that patients with blood group AB Rh (+) would be prone to intubation more than other blood groups.

Association Between Rhesus and ABO Blood Group Types and Their Impact on Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19: A Multi-Center Investigation

“…Several existing risk factors can increase the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and worsen clinical impacts in critically ill patients. 11 , 13 Evidence that supports the association between the Rh blood group and COVID‐19 infection in critically ill patients is not well established. The magnitude of the COVID-19 predisposition between two phenotype groups was reported inconsistently in earlier studies.…”

“…Previously reported studies did not show any association between Rh-blood groups and hospital length of stay. 11 , 13 , 24 , 27 …”

“…Multiple subsequent studies reported similar findings between Rh-positive and Rh-negative blood groups. 7 , 11 , 13 , 22 , 27 …”

“… 8 , 9 In addition, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) found no definitive results about the association between blood type and COVID‐19 risk and thus recommended that further studies are needed. 4 The majority of the studies showed that patients with blood type A have a higher incidence of COVID-19, 10 , 11 whereas those with blood type O have a lower risk of infection. However, some studies have different results from the majority.…”

Exploring the distribution and prognostic effect of the ABO blood types of COVID-19 patients during delta and omicron waves: A case control study

“…In the Turkish population, studies examining this risk were conducted [15][16][17]. The joint results found in these studies; people with group A are more likely to be infected, but the blood group does not have a significant effect on the course of the diseaseexcept for the study of Sertbas et al, which showed that the risk of intubation increased in the AB group [16]. It is seen in this study that the risk in group A, which we also confirmed before, is not valid for the period in which the current waves with delta and omicron variants.…”