RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Emphasizing the link between blood types in multi-ethnic disparities and COVID-19 infection in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 177
OP 186
DO 10.15537/smj.2022.43.2.20210847
VO 43
IS 2
A1 Nasif, Wesam A.
A1 Ali, Abeer S.E.
A1 Khogeer, Asim A.
A1 Mukhtar, Mohammed H.
A1 NourEldein, Mohamed M.
A1 Shebly, Ahmed Y.
A1 Alqahtani, Shumukh H.
A1 Alnashri, Yahya A.
A1 Khouj, Ghaidaa E.
A1 Gadah, Ziyad I.
A1 Althubiti, Mohammad A.
YR 2022
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/43/2/177.abstract
AB Objectives: To analyze the impact and distribution of blood groups in different ethnicities and the extent of susceptibility to infection with COVID-19 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 4,609 COVID-19 patients from five ethnic groups to assess the impact and distribution of different blood types and susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. The study was carried out between November 2020 and June 2021 in the College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University in collaboration with the General Directorate of Health Affairs, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.Results: Blood group (A, B, and O) distributions in 2,617 COVID-19 patients with local control populations was done. Our study found that in both Saudi and non-Saudi populations, blood groups O and A were associated with higher infection rates, whereas blood group AB was associated with lower infection rates (p=0.0001). COVID-19 seems to be associated with blood groups A, B, and AB (RR=3.23, 95% CI=2.702-3.821, p=0.0001). COVID-19 risk was lower in people with O blood group (RR=0.783, 95% CI=0.733-0.836, p=0.0001). South Asians had higher odds of COVID-19 infection when compared to Saudi cases and other ethnic groups (OR=1.12, 95 % CI: 1.074-1.24, p=0.04).Conclusion: We emphasize that COVID-19 infection is not proportional among ethnically related blood groups. Notably, RhD-negative protect against COVID-19, whereas A and O blood types are more susceptible. Thus, when assessing COVID-19 prognosis and vaccination priority, blood groups A and O are critical.