key: cord-0803289-wk6b1lju
authors: Solmaz, İhsan; Araç, Songül
title: ABO blood groups in COVID‐19 patients; Cross‐sectional study
date: 2020-12-19
journal: Int J Clin Pract
DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.13927
sha: f5ea9e3b87fe739405b245c80bb68a9f9fe79e18
doc_id: 803289
cord_uid: wk6b1lju

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the ABO and Rh blood group distribution and clinical characteristics in patients with COVID‐19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical characteristics and blood groups of 1667 patients who were hospitalised because of COVID‐19 (with a positive PCR test) between 16 March and 10 July were reviewed cross‐sectionally. RESULTS: When blood groups of patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 and control group were compared, it was observed that there was an increase in the number of COVID‐19 patients with blood groups A and AB, decrease in the number of COVID‐19 patients with blood group O, a statistically significant increase in the number of individuals with blood group A in COVID‐19 patients compared with healthy individuals, and almost significant increase in the number of COVID‐19 patients with blood group AB and a very significant decrease in the number of COVID‐19 patients with blood group O. CONCLUSION: Our study has found that having blood group O may be protective, that blood group A may have greater susceptibility to the disease, but this does not affect the course of the disease and is not associated with mortality.

The statistical analysis showed that there was a very significant increase in the number of individuals with blood group A in COVID-19 patients compared with healthy individuals, and almost a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 patients with blood group AB and a very significant decrease in the number of COVID-19 patients with blood group O, and no significant difference in terms of B and Rh blood group systems (Table 1) .

Of the patients, 175 (10.5%) were followed up in the intensive care unit and 89 (50.8%) died. When the blood group distribution of the patients taken to the intensive care unit was examined, A, B, O, AB blood group distribution of the patients was 42.28%, 21.14%, 26.85%, 9.71%, and Rh (+), Rh (−) blood group distribution was 92% and 8%, respectively. And when the blood group distribution of the deceased patients was examined, A, B, O, AB blood group distribution was 40.44%, 22.47%, 26.96%, 10.11%, and Rh (+), Rh (−) blood group distribution was 91.01% and 8.98%, respectively. When all COVID-19 patients and those in need of intensive care and deceased ones were compared statistically, although there were percentile differences in ABO blood group distribution, this was not statistically significant (Tables 2 and 3 ).

A total of 1667 COVID-19 patients were included in our study. In COVID-19 patients, it was observed that the ratio of blood group A and AB was higher than in the healthy control group, and blood group 

• Our study has found that having blood group O may be protective, that blood group A may have a greater susceptibility to the disease, but this does not affect the course of the disease and is not associated with mortality.

• We want to emphasise that the most important and easiest way to avoid COVID-19, regardless of the risk factor and the facilitating factor, is to maintain social distance, hand hygiene, and use of.

Differences in blood group antigen expression may increase or decrease host susceptibility to many infections. Blood group antigens can play a direct role in infection by serving as receptors and/or cofactors for microorganisms, parasites and viruses. In addition, many blood group antigens facilitate intracellular uptake, signal transmission or cell adhesion through the organisation of membrane microdomains. Blood group antigens may alter the natural immune response to infection. 13 Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many studies have been conducted on this subject. Zhao J YY et al examined the ABO blood group distribution in 2,173 COVID-19 patients and showed that the frequency of blood group A was higher in COVID-19 patients than that of non-A blood groups and found that the blood group O was associated with a lower risk for infection compared with the non-O blood groups. 14 patients. 15, 16 In the study carried out by E. Arac et al, there was no significant difference between ABO blood groups, but strong significance was found in the Rh system. 3 We believe that this study had some limitations due to the fact that PCR-negative patients were also included in the study, the number of cases was small, the study was conducted at the beginning of the pandemic, and the prevalence of COVID-19 in some circles, especially amongst some families, rather than across community. In our study, we found that blood group A was more frequent than in community and statistically significant, blood group O was less frequent than in community and statistically significant, and blood group AB was more frequent than in the community, but it was not significant. We think that blood group A is more susceptible to COVID-19 and blood group O is protective.

When COVID-19 patients in need of intensive care and deceased patients were compared, blood groups were shown to have no significant effects on intensive care and mortality. ABO blood groups have been associated with cardiovascular diseases before. 17 It is known that thrombotic risks decrease significantly in blood group O compared with non-O blood groups. 17, 18 Studies have shown that microthrombosis that develops in COVID-19 infection in the pulmonary vascular bed contributes significantly to acute respiratory syndrome; therefore, the use of prophylactic anticoagulants is also included in the guidelines. 19, 20 There are opinions arguing that the protective effect shown TA B L E 1 Blood group distribution and analysis of COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals 

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How to cite this article: Solmaz İ, Araç S. ABO blood groups in COVID-19 patients; Cross-sectional study