(Seema Prasad/ Medical Daily) — So far, age, gender and comorbidities have been considered determinants of the COVID-19 disease’s progression. Now, an unexpected factor seems to be influencing susceptibility to COVID-19, according to two recent studies: blood type.
In both studies published in the journal Blood Advances last week, researchers said that people with blood type O could be less vulnerable to the disease than people with other blood types.
While the outcome of the two research papers was the same, there were a few differences worth noting. The Danish study said that more COVID-19 positive people had blood types A, B and AB, while fewer people with blood type O tested positive with the coronavirus infection.
On the other hand, the Canadian study demonstrated that, along with blood type O, even blood type B seemed to provide some immunity against the novel coronavirus and its complications. According to the study, more people with types A and AB required treatment, especially when compared to blood groups O or B. More people in the former category also underwent treatment at intensive care units (ICUs) with ventilators for potential lung damage and dialysis for kidney malfunction. (…)