Risk of COVID-19 infection and severity of clinical outcomes and its association with ABO blood groups

Abstract

Objective: To determine association of ABO blood groups with severity of COVID-19 symptoms among covid recovered patients of different blood type. Methodology: An observational/experimental study was conducted at department of physiology, Sindh university Jamshoro from April 2021 to December 2021.The sample size (n) was 732, data consist of male and female covid recovered participants of age group 18-30yrs. Self -structured questionnaire was used to evaluate intensity of symptoms of COVID 19 and for other characteristics such as gender and age. Blood was drawn for ABO blood typing. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS- 21.Results: Seven hundred thirty two was the total study population of COVID-19 recovered patients, out of which male population was 489 (66.9%) and female population was 243 (33.1%).The results reports that there is statistically significant association present between the A +ve blood type and susceptibility of COVID-19 infection, whereas AB +ve and A +ve shown higher percentage of severe infection. Blood group B +ve with (48%) with less severe symptoms. O +ve people shown mild symptoms that is 60% of entire O+ve population and 30% are presented with severe symptoms.Conclusion: This study suggests that A +ve blood group is susceptible blood type with high chances to get infection. People having A +ve and AB +ve blood types are more susceptible towards severe COVID 19 infection in comparison to other blood types, O +ve blood shown rather protective effect.