Relationship between the ABO blood group and Rhesus factors with COVID-19 susceptibility

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The molecular research has raised copious hypotheses about different molecular effects on the variable expression of the current virus on the human body. The present prospective study aims to determine clinically as well as statistically, the relation between ABO blood groups and Rhesus (Rh) factor and the severity of the Covid-19 virus.

Research design and methods

We conducted a prospective, single-centered study at The Combined Military Hospital Lahore, Pakistan. Details of only those patients who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms were included. The odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval and the chi-square test of blood groups and Rhesus factor was also conducted individually with the severity of disease, outcomes, and respiratory symptoms. P-values less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

The chi-square test and odd ratio yielded no significant results when the covid-19 status was compared with the Rhesus factor (p-value > 0.05). However, the results were found to be significant when associations were run between Covid-19 status and all the blood groups (p-value < 0.05).

Conclusion

According to the analytical results of the present study, protective nature of all the blood antigens (A, B, AB, none) was observed in patients presenting with Covid-19 symptoms of varying severity.

KEYWORDS:

• Covid-19
• blood groups
• Rh factors
• ventilation
• dyspnea

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

Sameer Ijaz: Conceptualization, manuscript writing. Ali Hamza Cheema: Study design, manuscript writing. Anum Rafiq: Interpretation of data, manuscript writing. Abdul Rehman Shah Syed: Manuscript writing, data analysis and tables. Abdul Ahad Syed: Manuscript writing and data analysis. Farea Eqbal: Tables formation, manuscript writing. Hassan Mumtaz: Conceptualization, final review.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.