Blood Type Associated with the Risk of COVID-19 Infection in Pregnant Women

Diagnostics (Basel). 2023 Apr 4;13(7):1338. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13071338.

Abstract

COVID-19 forced us to investigate risk factors to provide the best medical attention, especially in vulnerable groups, such as pregnant patients. Studies in other populations have analyzed blood groups in relation to infection, complications, and death. The present study aimed to analyze the association of blood groups with the risk of infection and complications in pregnant women and newborns from the Mexican-Mestizo population. We studied 1906 individuals. Quantitative variables were analyzed through the Student's t-test. Categorical variables were analyzed through Pearson's chi-square test, and logistic regression was used to analyze the association between categorical variables and outcomes. No significant association was observed between blood groups and infection risk. Individuals with the AB blood type are at higher risk for developing severe disease, although blood groups do not seem to be involved in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the AB blood group could be considered a risk factor for developing severe COVID-19 in the Mexican population.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; blood type; pregnancy; risk factor.