Analysis of the correlation between COVID-19 infection frequency and disease severity and mortality in relation to ABO and RH blood groups

Aims: The etiology of the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors that predispose individuals to the disease remain little comprehended. Research indicates significant variability in outcomes related to blood types and COVID-19. These researches have examined ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood types as different datasets. Our research is an unprecedented study that investigates the correlation between developing COVID-19 and/or disease severity/death by analyzing ABO and Rh blood groups concurrently. Methods: This study retrospectively included 461 RT-PCR-diagnosed COVID-19 patients and 46 healthy volunteers aged 18 or older with known blood types from April 2020 to December 2020. All demographic and medical data came from electronic medical records (EMR). Rh and ABO blood types were established via card tests with microplates (forward and reverse grouping). Patients were grouped by clinical outcome and COVID-19 positivity. In SPSS 26, descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, student’s T test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test assessed regularly distributed and non-normally distributed characteristics. Results: The age distribution of the patients (62±13) was comparable to that of the control group (64±14) (p=0.295). No significant differences were seen between the groups regarding sex and blood group distribution (p=0.204 and p=0.087, respectively). Analysis of individuals by blood types revealed no significant differences in the incidence of COVID-19, age, sex, and clinical course (p=0.603, p=0.244, p=0.272, and p=0.810, respectively). Conclusion: Our investigation demonstrated that, contrary to the current literature, there is no correlation between developing COVID-19 and/or the severity of the disease or mortality across the eight blood groups classified by ABO and Rh combinations. This may signify a realistic consequence or could be linked to genetic profiles. We contend that, contrary to assertions in the literature, there is no link between ABO and Rh blood types and the incidence, severity, or mortality of COVID-19.