1.The association of ABO and Rhesus blood type with the risks of developing SARS-CoV-2 infection: A meta-analysis
Soo, K-M. ; Chung, K.M. ; Mohd Azlan, M.A.A. ; Lam, J.Y. ; Ren, J.W.X. ; Arvind, J.J. ; Wong Y.P. ; Chee, H.Y. ; Amin-Nordin, S.
Tropical Biomedicine 2022;39(No.1):126-134
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been spreading like a wildfire everywhere in the
globe. It has been challenging the global health care system ever since the end of 2019, with
its virulence and pathogenicity. Recent studies have shown the association between ABO
blood group, Rhesus blood type and susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. Various studies
and few meta-analyses have been done and some might be inconsistent; therefore, this
meta-analysis was done to assess the relationship between different ABO and Rhesus
blood types on the susceptibility to COVID-19 infections. This meta-analysis assessed the
odds ratio of COVID-19 infection of different ABO and Rhesus blood types. Subgroup analyses
according to (1) age and gender matched; (2) different blood group antigens; (3) Rhesus
positive and negative of each blood group were carried out. Publication bias and Quality
Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) were also done to assess the risk
of bias in these publications. It was found that blood group A showed significant difference
in odds ratio of COVID-19 infection (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.24). Blood group AB showed
significant difference in odds ratio when studies with lower QUADAS-2 score were removed.
This means that populations with blood group A and AB are more likely to be infected with
COVID-19. As there is a higher tendency that blood group A and AB to be infected with COVID19, precautious care should be taken by these populations.