Study Shows COVID-19 Risk Might be Linked to Blood Type

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and other partner institutions reported that two human gene variants could make people more prone to lung failure due to COVID-19. The preprint article about the study is published in MedRxiv.

The genome-wide association analysis included 1,980 patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure at seven centers in the Italian and Spanish epicenters of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Europe (Milan, Monza, Madrid, San Sebastian, and Barcelona). Results showed that one variant lies in the overlay of the genome that controls blood groupings. People with blood type A+ are much prone to lung failure compared with those with other blood types, while those with type O blood were less prone. On the other hand, the second variant which is located in chromosome 3 and close to 6 genes, includes one that is linked with the molecular receptor that the virus utilizes to penetrate human cells.