CORRELATION BETWEEN BLOOD TYPE AND SEVERITY OF COVID-19 RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SPO2 CATEGORIES

Background:In the relentless fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have diligently sought to identify high-risk groups to mitigate severe consequences. This study specifically explores the link between the types of ABOblood groups and COVID-19, aiming to establish a correlation between theABOblood groups and the severity of respiratory illness caused by this virus. While various studies have delved into this association, our research stands out as the first from the COVID-designated hospital affiliated with a tertiary care academic institute in Delhi-NCR. Methods: A prospective study at Sharda Hospital (January 2022-January 2023) included 219 COVID-19 patients. Blood types, demographics, and clinical data were collected. Severity was categorized per Ministry of Health criteriawhich takes into consideration SpO2 levels and respiratory rate. Normal distribution was confirmed by the Shapiro-Wilk test. Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests were used for significance assessment, with p< 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results:In this study of 219 COVID-19 patients, ages 41-50 constituted 23.3%, males dominated (n=154), and severe cases correlated with pulse rate >100 and oxygen saturation <92% (p < 0.001). Blood group distribution showed skewed deviation, with 42.5% A positive. No significant association between smoking and blood group was found in the population under study. Discussion: Our findings contradict some existing literature, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of COVID-19 outcomes. While blood type may impact susceptibility, its role in determining severity appears nuanced. Further research should explore the intricate interplay between blood type, comorbidities, and COVID-19 outcomes. Conclusion:In this study, a predominance of A blood group among COVID-19 patients was observed, but no significant association with illness severity was identified, necessitating further research to understand the underlying mechanisms.