Are some blood types particularly susceptible to corona? Researchers from Germany and Norway have examined blood groups for the risk of a severe course of the disease – and found large differences.
It has long been suspected that genetic factors could play a role in immune defense against corona. As early as March, Chinese scientists were concerned with the influence that a person’s blood group has on susceptibility to the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 could have.
A recent study by German and Norwegian scientists has now confirmed the relationship between blood groups and the risk of coronavirus infection.
Corona infection: blood group as an influencing factor?
The research team around Dr. Tom Karlsen from Oslo University Hospital has evaluated more than 1,600 blood samples from Covid-19 patients with severe history in Spain and Italy. For this purpose, the genetic characteristics of the samples were compared with those of healthy blood donors. Researchers from the University Hospital Kiel led by Dr. Andre Franke involved.
The result of the investigation: People with blood group A were more susceptible to this Corona virus. They had a significantly higher risk of a particularly severe course of the disease. However, people with type 0 blood were better protected from the virus. The B blood groups were in the middle. The results of the study were published on a preprint server.
Chinese researchers had also noticed in earlier studies that the number of Covid 19 patients was above average blood type A had.
What are blood types? The blood group is the specific nature of the blood in humans and animals. There are four different blood groups in humans: A, AB, B and 0. There are also positive and negative types.
Study result not yet scientifically confirmed
Do people with blood group A now have to worry more about being infected with the coronavirus? In their pre-publication of the study, the study authors point out that there has not yet been a peer review – a professional review by experts. The study is therefore in the preprint stage and currently shows only one trend.
The health professional Karl Lauterbach (SPD) commented on Twitter. He thought the study was “robust”:
A very (!) Astonishing result, but shown in a robust study. Blood group A about 50% higher risk of severe course Covid-19. Twice the risk as blood group 0. Blood group B in between. Since immune response depends on blood type, that makes sense https://t.co/QFRsfAauc8
– Karl Lauterbach (@Karl_Lauterbach) June 4, 2020
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Blood group A most common in Germany
Of the four blood types A, B, AB and 0, according to the German Red Cross, blood group A is the most common in the German population with around 43 percent. Blood group 0 is also very common (41 percent). Blood group B is 11 percent of people and blood group AB is the least common at 5 percent.
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