The COVID-19 virus travels through our blood stream. Therefore it makes sense blood characteristics could affect the speed and severity of the disease. Genetic-testing bio tech 23andMe is conducting a study into genetic factors that may explain these differences. The company has now released a report confirming blood type could affect COVID-19 severity.
Blood Type Could Affect COVID-19 Despite Other Factors
The COVID-19 disease having such a severe effect around the world presents with a severity ranging from asymptomatic to fatal. The 23andMe researchers decided to explore the factors causing this. They based their study on over one million participants, of whom 15,434 self-reported positive test results.
First, they confirmed known risk factors for hospitalization including advancing age, male gender, and elevated body mass index. And then also lower socio-economic status, non-European ancestry, and pre-existing cardio-metabolic and respiratory conditions.
However, a strong association still remained between blood type and COVID-19 diagnosis after they allowed for these and other differences. This evidence that blood type could affect COVID-19 severity echoed an earlier study published in New England Journal of Medicine in June 2020.
Significant Findings from the 23andMe Study
The overwhelming majority of respondents (93%) were from the United States. Some 80% of the total were of European ancestry, although there were also 11% Latinos and 3% African Americans. Furthermore, the median age was 51 years, while 63% of participants were females.
The study confirmed the ABO blood group as a risk factor for COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. However, the O group is more protective compared to non-O blood groups, and therefore correlates with lower severity.
The rest of the 23andMe report goes mainly over our heads in terms of complexity. But we appended a link in case you like your science densely packed. To us, the main take-away is blood type could affect covid-19 complications, and we could consider adjusting our lifestyles accordingly.
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Preview Image: ABO Blood Group
