Association of ABO and Rhesus Blood Groups with the Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Cross-sectional Analytical Study
Published: December 1, 2021 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2021/51103.15716
Mina Khasayesi , Zahra Kashi , Narges Mirzaei Ilali , Roya Ghasemian , Mohammad Eslamijoubari , Zahra Hosseini-Khah
1. Medical Biochemistry, Diabetes Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran.
2. Endocrinologist, Diabetes Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran.
3. Resident, Diabetes Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran.
4. Infectious Disease Specialist, Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari,
Mazandaran, Iran.
5. Oncologist, Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Non-communicable Disease Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran.
6. Ph.D. of Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran.
Correspondence
Zahra Hosseini-khah,
Razi Street, Emam Khomeini Hospital, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran.
E-mail: zahra_582005@yahoo.com; kashi_zahra@yahoo.com
Introduction: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a new strain of RNA viruses causes coronavirus disease in human. Though some studies suggested different blood group types as risk factors for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, the association between blood groups and the COVID-19 infection may not be the same in various societies with different genetic statuses. Also, no studies so far have investigated the relationship between COVID-19 severity and ABO blood groups in Iran and developing countries according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria.
Aim: To evaluate the association between blood types and the severity of COVID-19 infection.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 171 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 {49 severe (severe or critical) and 122 non severe (mild to moderate)}, who were admitted to hospitals of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran from April 2020 to June 2020. To evaluate the distribution of the blood group, 171 COVID-19 patients were compared with the reported data of Iranian population blood groups. The severity of COVID-19 infection was determined based on WHO criteria including clinical symptoms, radiological findings, and signs of organ dysfunction. The associations between ABO blood groups and the severity of COVID-19, were evaluated using Pearson’s Chi-square.
Results: The distribution of the blood group in 171 patients with COVID-19 was not different compared to the reported general Iranian population blood group (p-value=0.344). Evaluation of the association between ABO blood groups and the severity of COVID-19 showed that patients with blood group type B developed severe COVID-19 infection compared to other blood types who showed mild or moderate conditions (p-value=0.048). Mortality due to COVID-19 was not statistically different between the ABO blood group and Rh (p-value=0.96, p-value=0.27 respectively), but the frequency of patients with Rh-negative that needed intubation and mechanical ventilation was higher compared to Rh-positive patients (p-value=0.003).
Conclusion: A positive correlation was found between blood type B and COVID-19 severity. Also, mechanical ventilation was significantly more in Rh-negative patients.
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