Relationship between the abo blood group, age and gender with covid-19 susceptibility

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the ABO blood group, age, gender and the COVID-19 susceptibility. Design: The study was conducted by comparing the blood group distribution in 2,033 patients with COVID-19 confirmed by SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. Materials and Methods: During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a study was conducted in Blood Bank of a COVID -19 dedicated tertiary care hospital. The purpose of the study was to find out the susceptibility of patient’s blood group to COVID-19 disease and its occurrence in particular gender and age. A total of 2033 samples of patients positive with COVID -19 confirmed with positive real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction(RT-PCR) testing, were taken from a period of7 months that is June 2020 to 30th December 2020. Blood grouping was done with gel card method as well as slide method to identify the respective blood group of the patient. Results: After testing the samples of 2033 patients, it was noted that individuals with blood group B+ ve were most susceptible to COVID-19 with a total of 723 cases (37.4%) and individuals with blood group AB-ve 13 cases (0.6%) were least affected. The people between age group 51-60 were most affected with total of 510 cases (25.15%) Male gender dominated with a positive number of 1365 (67.1) cases out of 2033. Conclusion: People with blood group B might need particularly strengthened personal protection to reduce the chance of infection; SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with blood group B might need to receive more vigilant surveillance and aggressive treatment;