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Healthcare experts in Qatar have conducted a study to investigate the association between blood groups and clinical outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
The study has found no association between ABO blood groups and unfavourable clinical outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients. The Rh-negative blood type was associated with slightly lower chances of death compared to the Rh-positive one.
‘Association between blood groups and clinical outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients: A retrospective study,’ was conducted among over 848 OCVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) at Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital.
The proportion of patients infected with severe acute COVID-19 who become critically ill is small. The association between blood groups and COVID-19 outcomes was investigated in several studies. Yet there is uncertainty over an association between an individual’s blood group and their vulnerability to infection.
Therefore, the study published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care, has retrospectively analyzed electronic health records of COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) at Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, Qatar, from March 7, 2020 to July 15, 2020.
“The study population was divided based on their blood groups into types A, B, AB, O, Rhesus (Rh)-positive, and Rh-negative. The primary outcome studied in each blood group was all-cause ICU mortality. Secondary outcomes evaluated were the requirement and duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU days, hospitalization days, and C-reactive protein (CRP) value on admission,” according to the authors of the study.
Data collected were demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, ABO and Rh blood group types, blood test results, need for mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospitalization days, and mortality.
The primary investigation has focused on the mortality rate among COVID-19 patients in ICU – with different blood groups. Secondary findings were on the requirement of mechanical ventilation, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU days, hospitalization days, and C-reactive protein (CRP) value on admission.
Among the number of patients included in the study, the mortality rate was 19.8% (168 out of 848), and that in individuals with blood groups A, B, AB, O, Rh-positive, and Rh-negative was 22.6% (52 out of 230), 18.1% (44out of 243), 22% (18out of 82), 18.4% (54out of 293), 20.4% (165out of810), and 7.9% (3out of 38)respectively.
“Although the highest mortality was noted in blood group A, followed by AB, these observations failed to achieve statistical significance,” according to the study.
It further said that Rh-negative blood type had lower odds of death compared to the Rh-positive one (odds ratio = 0.27; 95% confidence interval 0.08–0.99, P = 0.049). None of the blood groups showed an association with the need for mechanical ventilation, duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of ICU and hospital stay, and CRP value on admission.
However, the study authors have called for further research on population-based differences in blood types and severity of COVID-19, with an aim to develop strategies to prevent illness and adverse outcomes.
