ABO phenotype and clinical correlates of COVID-19 severity in hospitalized patients

David J Hermel; Samantha R Spierling Bagsic; Carrie L Costantini; James R Mason; Zhubin J Gahvari; Alan Saven

doi:10.2144/fsoa-2021-0045

ABO phenotype and clinical correlates of COVID-19 severity in hospitalized patients

Future Sci OA. 2021 Jun 12;7(8):FSO735. doi: 10.2144/fsoa-2021-0045. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Authors

David J Hermel¹, Samantha R Spierling Bagsic¹, Carrie L Costantini¹, James R Mason¹, Zhubin J Gahvari¹, Alan Saven¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Hematology & Oncology, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Abstract

Aim: This study investigates the association between ABO blood phenotype and COVID-19 severity, measured by intensive care unit admission, need for intubation, hospitalization length and death. It further explores clinical predictors of COVID-19 severity within a primarily Hispanic demographic in San Diego County.

Materials & methods: We retrospectively reviewed 942 total patients, 473 with available blood type, hospitalized at five Scripps Health hospitals with COVID-19.

Results: No significant association was found between ABO phenotype and COVID-19 severity on multivariate analysis, while a diagnosis of anemia and male sex was associated with all severity outcomes on exploratory analysis.

Conclusion: Our results provide relevant clinical correlates of COVID-19 severity and help better elucidate the association between ABO phenotype and COVID-19.

Keywords: ABO blood type; COVID-19; Hispanic; San Diego; anemia; male.