The Impact of ABO Blood Grouping on COVID-19 Vulnerability and Seriousness: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Controlled Study among the Arab Community

Nagla A. El-Shitany, Manal El-Hamamsy, Ahlam A. Alahmadi, Basma G. Eid, Thikryat Neamatallah, Haifa S. Almukadi, Rana A. Arab, Khadija A. Faddladdeen, Khayria A. Al-Sulami, Safia M. Bahshwan, Soad S. Ali, Steve Harakeh and Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin
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Nagla A. El-Shitany: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Manal El-Hamamsy: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Ahlam A. Alahmadi: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Basma G. Eid: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Thikryat Neamatallah: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Haifa S. Almukadi: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Rana A. Arab: Medicine Program, Ibn Sina National Faculty for Medical Studies, Jeddah 22421, Saudi Arabia
Khadija A. Faddladdeen: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Khayria A. Al-Sulami: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts in Al-Makhwah, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha 65511, Saudi Arabia
Safia M. Bahshwan: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha 65511, Saudi Arabia
Soad S. Ali: Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt
Steve Harakeh: Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin: Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Background and Objectives: Studies have noted that some ABO blood types are more susceptible to COVID-19 virus infection. This study aimed to further confirm the relationship between different blood groups on the vulnerability, symptoms, cure period, and severity among COVID-19 recovered patients. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study approached the participants from the Arab community via social media (mainly Facebook and WhatsApp). The data were collected through two Google Form questionnaires, one for COVID-19 recovered patients (COVID-19 group, n = 726), and the other for the healthy people (Control group, n = 707). Results: The subjects with blood group O were the least likely to be infected with the COVID-19 virus, while those with blood group A were not likely to be the most susceptible. There were significant differences among different ABO blood groups regarding the distribution of oxygen saturation percentage, myalgia, and recovery time after COVID-19 infection ( p < 0.01, 0.01, and 0.05, respectively). The blood group A showed the highest percentage of patients who experienced an oxygen saturation range of 90–100%, whereas the blood group O showed the highest percentage of patients who experienced an oxygen saturation range of 70–80%. The blood group A showed the lowest percentage of patients who required artificial respiration, whereas the blood group O showed the highest percentage of patients who required artificial respiration. The blood group B showed the lowest percentage of patients who experienced myalgia and exhibited the lowest percentage of patients who needed 3 weeks or more to recover. Conclusion: The people of blood group O may be the least likely to be infected with COVID-19, however, they may be the more in need of treatment in hospital and artificial respiration compared to the other blood groups.

Keywords: COVID-19; blood group; artificial respiration; oxygen saturation; myalgia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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