Relationship between blood group and COVID-19

A series of studies have examined a potential link between an individual's blood type and the severity of COVID-19. Initial research conducted by scientists in Wuhan, China, on thousands of infected patients suggested that individuals with blood group A were more likely to experience severe symptoms compared to those with blood group O.[1][2] Other blood types fell between these two in terms of relative risk.

A second study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, did not establish a causal relationship between blood type and the severity of COVID-19, but it did support the earlier findings from Chinese researchers.[3] However, later studies conducted in other countries did not confirm a significant or meaningful link between blood type and disease severity, calling into question the universality of the initial findings.

Scientific background

Due to the complex physical and chemical interactions between the virus and host cells, disease progression differs among individuals. Researchers have found that O-glycosylation, the attachment of carbohydrates to oxygen-containing groups on proteins, plays a key role in the development and spread of COVID-19. It is believed that a similar process may occur with O-glycoproteome, one of the important elements in the infection process.[4][5]

Research history

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, researchers suggested that some blood groups might be more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others.[3] Their findings showed that people with blood type A had the highest rate of hospitalization, whereas those with blood type O had the lowest.[6][7]

By the next year, several studies had been published, which produced conflicting results.[8] The differences were speculated to be due to possible, though unknown, differences in genetics, geography, or the prevalent viral variants in different studies.[8] Large studies in the US[8] and in Iran[9] found no association between blood group and COVID-19 infection rates or severity.[9] A 2020 review found an association between blood type and infection rates (estimated between 2% and 33% higher for type A) but no statistically significant difference in the risk of death.[10]

Blood group A vs. O

Norwegian and German researchers concluded that COVID-19 patients with blood group variants "rs657152" and "rs11385942" were 32% and 77% more likely, respectively, to suffer respiratory failure. These gene variants help determine ABO blood group expression. Earlier, Chinese researchers had already found a higher prevalence of blood type A among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. It was previously known that individuals with blood type O are less likely to contract malaria, while those with blood type A are more resistant to plague.

In Germany, approximately 37% of the population has blood group A+, and 35% have O+. Blood group B+ is found in 9%, while A− and O− are each found in about 6%. The rarest blood groups are AB+ (4%), B− (2%), and AB− (1%).[11][12][13]

References

  1. ^ "Does your blood type increase your risk of coronavirus infection?". Darmankade Medical Magazine (in Persian). 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  2. ^ "Blodet kan ge svar på hur vi drabbas av covid - Vårdfokus". Vårdfokus (in Swedish). 15 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  3. ^ a b "Why is COVID-19 less risky for people with blood group O?". Hamshahri Online (in Persian). 2020-10-25. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  4. ^ "Do people with blood type O not get COVID?". Tabnak Javan (in Persian). Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  5. ^ Zietz, Michael; Zucker, Jason; Tatonetti, Nicholas P. (10 September 2020). "Testing the association between blood type and COVID-19 infection, intubation, and death". medRxiv. doi:10.1101/2020.04.08.20058073. PMC 7276013. PMID 32511586.
  6. ^ "Why blood group O may reduce the risk of coronavirus infection". Science and Technology News Agency. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  7. ^ "What is the link between blood type and COVID-19 severity?". IMNA. 2020-10-25. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  8. ^ a b c Anderson, Jeffrey L.; May, Heidi T.; Knight, Stacey; Bair, Tami L.; Muhlestein, Joseph B.; Knowlton, Kirk U.; Horne, Benjamin D. (2021-04-05). "Association of Sociodemographic Factors and Blood Group Type With Risk of COVID-19 in a US Population". JAMA Network Open. 4 (4): e217429. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.7429. ISSN 2574-3805. PMC 8022215. PMID 33818622.
  9. ^ a b Nasiri, Maryam; Khodadadi, Javad; Hajrezaei, Zahra; Bizhani, Negar (2021-04-05). "The Probable Association between Blood Groups and Prognosis of COVID-19". Iranian Journal of Public Health. 50 (4): 825–830. doi:10.18502/ijph.v50i4.6009. ISSN 2251-6093. PMC 8219630. PMID 34183933.
  10. ^ Pourali, F.; Afshari, M.; Alizadeh-Navaei, R.; Javidnia, J.; Moosazadeh, M.; Hessami, A. (2020-09-01). "Relationship between blood group and risk of infection and death in COVID-19: a live meta-analysis". New Microbes and New Infections. 37 100743. doi:10.1016/j.nmni.2020.100743. ISSN 2052-2975. PMC 7418722. PMID 32837730.
  11. ^ "Which blood groups are at higher risk of COVID-19? - Bahar News". baharnews.ir. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  12. ^ "Does your blood type increase your coronavirus risk?". Darmankade Medical Magazine (in Persian). 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  13. ^ "Blood groups O and A may influence COVID-19 severity". Deutsche Welle. 2020-10-16. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
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