People with O Blood Type least likely To Get COVID-19 – 23andMe Study
In a recent study conducted by 23andMe, US-based biotechnology, the preliminary results of the study showed that people with O-type blood groups are less likely to get infected with the COVID-19 infection. More research is being done on the topic and the study is yet to be published.
The blood group study
A biotech firm that deals with genetic analysis and testing, 23andMe started studying the relationship of genes with COVID-19 infection on 6 April 2020. The research involved more than 7.5 lakh people and it was done on a large scale. The study was further expanded and additional 10,000 people who had severe COVID-19 infection by the end of May. This expanded study is still ongoing.
The genetic design and the blood samples of these 7.5 lakh people were tested by the scientists in this study. The study divided the patients into three groups; the ones who got infected after a known exposure, the ones who were hospitalized, and the ones who self-reported COVID-19 infection.
Preliminary results of the study
The people with O blood type were seen to be the least likely to get infected
, according to the preliminary results of the study amongst all the subjects. To be specific, compared with the individuals with other blood types, individuals with O blood type were around 9-18 percent less likely to test positive for COVID-19 infection.Even after adjusting the individuals on the basis of co-morbidities, ethnicity, sex, age, and body mass index, the results remained the same.
It was also observed that people with blood group O who were directly exposed to the infection, such as healthcare workers and other front line workers, around 13-26 percent were less likely to test positive for COVID-19 than individuals with other blood types.
The results of the study further indicated that the ones most likely to test positive for COVID-19 infection are the people with blood group AB, followed by group B and then blood group A.
During this study, the Rhesus factor (plus or minus blood groups) was not considered.
Previous studies supporting the role of blood groups in COVID-19
The relationship between COVID-19 infection and blood type has been indicated in similar studies reported in the past.
A Chinese study conducted on 2,200 people on 27 March 2020 concluded that people with blood group O were associated with a lower risk of getting the infection and the ones with blood group A were at a higher risk of getting the infection.
A similar Italian-Spanish study stated that the O blood group showed protective effects against COVID-19 infection while the blood group A was associated with a higher infection.
