Blood group O is associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome in outpatients with a low comorbidity index

ABO blood group system modulates the inflammatory response and has been implicated in COVID-19. Group O protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection, but there are no data regarding post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). Our aim was to assess this possible association. Case-control study in a community setting, wit...

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Published in:Infectious diseases (London, England) England), 2022-12, Vol.54 (12), p.897-908
Main Authors: Díaz-Salazar, Sara, Navas, Raquel, Sainz-Maza, Laura, Fierro, Patricia, Maamar, Meryam, Artime, Arancha, Basterrechea, Héctor, Petitta, Benedetta, Pini, Stefanie, Olmos, José Manuel, Ramos, Carmen, Pariente, Emilio, Hernández, José Luis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ABO blood group
Blood group O
COVID-19
inflammatory markers
post-COVID-19 syndrome
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Summary:ABO blood group system modulates the inflammatory response and has been implicated in COVID-19. Group O protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection, but there are no data regarding post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). Our aim was to assess this possible association. Case-control study in a community setting, with subjects who had experienced mild COVID-19. Cases were PCS+, controls were PCS-, and the exposure variable, group O. We collected age, sex, BMI, smoking, comorbidities, inflammatory markers, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, blood type and clinical data. Five composite inflammatory indices were developed. Multivariate analyses were performed. We analysed 121 subjects (56.2% women), mean age 45.7 ± 16 years. Blood group frequencies were 41.5%, 7.9%, 5.9%, and 44.5% for A, B, AB and O, respectively. Thirty-six patients were PCS+, without significant differences between cases and controls. Compared to non-O, a higher prevalence of PCS (p = .036), and number of symptoms of PCS (p = .017) were noted in group O. Concerning biomarkers, PCS + and PCS- showed no differences in A, B, and AB groups. In contrast, group O PCS + patients had significantly lower albumin-to-globulin ratio and higher lymphocyte count, fibrinogen, CRP levels, and higher percentages of 3 composite indices, than PCS- subjects. Group O showed a 6-fold increased risk of PCS, compared to non-O (adjusted OR = 6.25 [95%CI, 1.6-23]; p = .007). Group O has shown a consistent relationship with PCS, characterised by a more intense inflammatory burden than the other blood groups. Blood group O could be part of the immunological link between acute COVID-19 and PCS.
ISSN:2374-4235
2374-4243
DOI:10.1080/23744235.2022.2115548