Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Immune Monitoring in Critical Care Patients Using Whole Blood Assays
Published on: September 20, 2024
Coronavirus infection and ABO blood grouping: Correlation or coincidence?
Awale R Bhalchandra1, Om P Sanjeev2, Rajendra Chaudhary3
1Department of Lab Medicine, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Insights
This study found no significant link between ABO blood groups and COVID-19 severity or outcomes. Blood group O showed a higher incidence of breathlessness and comorbidities, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
Background:
- The association between ABO blood groups and COVID-19 patient outcomes remains largely unexplored.
- Understanding potential risks associated with blood groups can aid in proactive COVID-19 patient management.
- This study investigated the relationship between ABO blood groups and COVID-19 severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if ABO blood groups are associated with the severity of COVID-19.
- To explore potential correlations between blood type and patient outcomes in COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- A hospital-based observational study involving 500 consecutive COVID-19 positive patients.
- ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood grouping performed using gel column agglutination technology.
- Clinical data including symptoms, comorbidities, and outcomes were collected from patient records.
Main Results:
- Blood group B was most common (42.8%), followed by O (23.4%), A (22.4%), and AB (11.4%). Rh positive was predominant (96.2%).
- Intensive care unit admissions and intubation rates were similar across all blood groups.
- No significant differences were observed in COVID-19 severity or mortality rates among the ABO blood groups.
Conclusions:
- No association was found between ABO blood groups and COVID-19 hospitalization, ICU admission, intubation, or overall outcomes.
- Blood group O showed a higher proportion of patients experiencing breathlessness and comorbidities.
- Further research may explore specific clinical manifestations in relation to blood group O.
Background:
Association between the ABO blood group and patient outcomes in COVID-19 patients is still unexplored. A known association may help to understand possible risks in advance to the management of such COVID-19 patients. The present study was designed to test such association if there is any, between the ABO blood group and the severity of COVID-19 patients.
Methods:
The present hospital-based observational study was conducted at a COVID-19 dedicated tertiary care hospital in North India over a period of six months during the first wave of the pandemic in the country. Five hundred consecutive patients, who tested positive for COVID-19 using RT-PCR on oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs, admitted to the hospital were included in the study. ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood grouping was done on leftover hematology blood samples using gel column agglutination technology. Required clinical details of patients including age, gender, clinical symptoms, comorbidities, outcomes, etc., were obtained from the patient's case sheets.
Results:
The most common blood group was 'B' (42.8%) followed by 'O' (23.4%), and 'A' (22.4%) while the least common was 'AB' (11.4%). Rh positive was seen in 96.2% while 3.8% were negative. Baseline characteristics were comparable including length of hospital stay, duration of symptoms, and associated comorbid illnesses. The need for intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (P = 0.05) and intubations (P = 0.20) was similar across all four blood groups. Differences in the severity of COVID-19 disease and mortalities among the groups were non-significant.
Conclusion:
There was no observed association found between the ABO blood group and COVID-19 infection requiring hospitalization, ICU admission, intubation, and outcomes. However, there was a higher proportion of breathlessness and the presence of at least one comorbidity in blood group O as compared to others.
Related Concept Videos
01:12The ABO Blood Group
Antigens in the ABO Blood Group System
Antigens are substances that can trigger an immune response, leading to the production of antibodies. In the ABO blood group system,...
01:15Blood Transfusion
Blood Transfusion Overview
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure used to replace blood lost due to injury, surgery, or to treat conditions such as anemia or cancer. During a transfusion, donor blood is...
01:10Blood Typing
Antigens are protein molecules that reside on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). The ABO and Rh blood typing systems target...
02:45Blood Transfusion and Agglutination
History
The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...
02:20Blood Types
ABO blood group
ABO antigens are glycoproteins encoded by genes present on...
01:19Rh Blood Group