Abstract
Globally, studies have shown conflicting results regarding the association of blood groups with SARS CoV-2 infection. To observe the association between ABO blood groups and the presentation and outcomes of confirmed COVID-19 cases. This was a prospective cohort study of patients with mild-to-moderately severe COVID-19 infections who presented in the COVID-19 unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and were enrolled between 01 June and 25 August, 2020. Patients were followed up for at least 30 days after disease onset. We grouped participants with A-positive and A-negative blood groups into group I and participants with other blood groups into group II. The cohort included 438 patients; 52 patients were lost to follow-up, five died, and 381 completed the study. The prevalence of blood group A [144 (32.9%)] was significantly higher among COVID-19 patients than in the general population (p < 0.001). The presenting age [mean (SD)] of group I [42.1 (14.5)] was higher than that of group II [38.8 (12.4), p = 0.014]. Sex (p = 0.23) and co-morbidity (hypertension, p = 0.34; diabetes, p = 0.13) did not differ between the patients in groups I and II. No differences were observed regarding important presenting symptoms, including fever (p = 0.72), cough (p = 0.69), and respiratory distress (p = 0.09). There was no significant difference in the median duration of symptoms in the two group (12 days), and conversion to the next level of severity was observed in 26 (20.6%) and 36 patients (13.8%) in group I and II, respectively. However, persistent positivity of RT-PCR at 14 days of initial positivity was more frequent among the patients in group I [24 (19%)] than among those in group II [29 (11.1%)]. The prevalence of blood group A was higher among COVID-19 patients. Although ABO blood groups were not associated with the presentation or recovery period of COVID-19, patients with blood group A had delayed seroconversion.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) first reported the emergence of COVID-19 infection in Wuhan City, China in late December [1]
Peer Review History: PLOS recognizes the benefits of transparency in the peer review process; we enable the publication of all of the content of peer review and author responses alongside final, published articles
The prevalence of blood group A was higher among COVID-19 patients
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) first reported the emergence of COVID-19 infection in Wuhan City, China in late December [1]. The SARS-CoV-2 enters the human body through replication in epithelial cells of the respiratory and digestive tracts. They have the ability to synthesize ABH carbohydrate epitopes. Different studies have shown contradictory results regarding the influence of blood groups on the susceptibility and Association of ABO blood groups with presentation and outcomes of confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection outcome of COVID-19 infections [13,14,15,16]. This study was conducted to observe the association of ABO blood groups with the presentation and outcome of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the largest COVID-19 dedicated hospital in Bangladesh. Studies have shown conflicting results regarding the association of blood groups with SARS CoV-2 infection
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
