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Observational Study
. 2022 Jun;32(3):248-251.
doi: 10.1111/tme.12796. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Histo-blood group A is a risk factor for severe COVID-19

Pedro M M Garibaldi  1 , Luciana C Oliveira  1 , Benedito A da Fonseca  2 , Maria Auxiliadora-Martins  2 , Carlos H Miranda  2 , Carlos E L Almado  2   3 , Dante M Langhi  4 , Renato N Gilio  5 , Leonardo C Palma  1 , Bruno B M Gomes  3 , Camila Bottura  6 , Larissa C Barrientto  6 , Camila D Donadel  1 , Rodrigo T Calado  1 , Gil C De Santis  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Histo-blood group A is a risk factor for severe COVID-19

Pedro M M Garibaldi et al. Transfus Med. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: Evaluate the impact of ABO histo-blood group type on COVID-19 severity.

Background: ABO histo-blood type has been associated with different outcomes in infectious diseases. It has also shown a higher proportion of type A patients with SARS-CoV-2. In this observational study, extracted from an ongoing clinical trial on the efficacy of convalescent plasma transfused in COVID-19 patients, we describe the impact of ABO blood type on the risk of developing severe COVID-19.

Materials and methods: Seventy-two consecutive patients (37 type A, 23 type O, 11 type B, 1 type AB) with severe (respiratory failure) COVID-19 were included. Control group was composed of 160 individuals randomly selected from the same populational basis.

Results: Blood group A was overrepresented (51.39%) in the patient group in relation to the control group (30%), whereas blood group O was less represented (31.94%) in patient than in control group (48%). Odds ratio (A vs. O) was 2.581 (1.381-4.817), CI 95%; p = 0.004. Also, blood group A patients appeared to have more severe disease, given by the scores of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and Simplified Acute Physiologic Score 3 (p = 0.036 and p = 0.058, respectively).

Conclusion: Histo-blood type A is associated with a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 in relation to blood type O.

Keywords: ABO blood group; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests.

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