ABO BLOOD TYPES AND INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN COVID-19 PNEUMONIA

Abstract

TYPE: Abstract TOPIC: Chest Infections PURPOSE: It has been hypothesized that patients with Blood Type A are predisposed to inflammatory conditions and develop severe disease compared to Blood Type O in COVID-19. Our aim was to determine the association of blood type to inflammatory markers and 60 days in hospital survival. METHODS: This is a cohort study of patients admitted to 13 hospitals in New Jersey with a diagnosis of severe COVID-19 Pneumonia from March to June 2020. RESULTS: 190 patients were included and ABO groups were similar in demographics, onset of symptoms, level of oygen support, and treatment. There were no statistically significant differences between median values of Interleukin-6 in Type A (19 pg/mL), Type AB (22 pg/mL), Type B (17 pg/mL), and Type O (23 pg/mL)(P=0.5876); D-dimer in Type A (1.33 mcg/mL), Type B (1.48 mcg/mL), Type AB (3.05 mcg/mL), and Type O (1.84 mcg/mL)(P=0.7121); Ferritin in type A (1139 ug/L), type B (936 ug/L), Type AB (724 ug/L), and Type O (927 ug/L)(P=0.7412); and C-reactive protein in Type A (12.55 mg/mL), Type B (16.10 mg/mL), Type AB (10.25 mg/mL), and Type O (15.30 mg/mL)(P=0.5843). There were no difference in 60 days in hospital survival between ABO blood types. (P=0.532). CONCLUSIONS: Blood Type O is not protective of severe presentation of COVID-19 and Blood Type A is not associated with higher inflammatory markers compared to other ABO blood types. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Severity of COVID-19 disease is not influenced by ABO Blood Type. DISCLOSURE: Ronaldo C. Go was part of Hoffmann-LaRoche advisory committee for long term follow-up in COVID-19 in July 2020. He was given $600. KEYWORD: COVID-19