Correlation between CT chest severity score (CT-SS) and ABO blood group system in Egyptian patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Background The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global health crisis. CT chest is considered as an important investigation for early diagnosis as well as assessment of severity of COVID-19 pneumonia. Several articles reported that there is a correlation between ABO blood group system and susceptibility as well as prognosis of the disease. In our study we correlated the CT severity score (CT-SS) and the ABO blood group in patients with COVID-19 infection. This study involved 547 symptomatic patients with pathologically proven COVID-19 infection (positive PCR); non contrast CT chest was done for all cases and CT severity score (CT-SS) was calculated followed by its correlation with the patients’ ABO blood group. Aim of the work was to evaluate the relation between CT-SS and the ABO blood groups in Egyptian patients with COVID-19 infection. Results The mean CT-SS in patients with blood group A patients (n = 153; 28%) was 13.7 (moderate severity), while in patients with blood group O (n = 227; 41.5%) the mean CT-SS was 6.7 (mild severity). In blood group B patients (n = 139; 25.4%) the mean CT-SS was 9.1 (mild to moderate severity) and in blood group AB patients (n = 28; 5.1%) the mean CT-SS was 9.7 (mild to moderate severity). Conclusion COVID-19 patients with blood group A are more prone to aggressive CT findings (higher CT-SS) and consequently may be susceptible to increased risk of mortality compared to the patients with other blood groups; however, patients with blood group O are suggested to have the least CT-SS and appear to be relatively protected.

Susceptibility of ABO blood group to COVID-19 infections: clinico-hematological, radiological, and complications analysis

“…In comparison to patients with other blood groups, Mansour et al 2021 discovered a significant association between patients with blood group A and a more severe pneumonic process in their noncontrast high-resolution CT chest with a comparatively higher severity score. [29] Also, the findings indicated that only 86 (30.3%) patients were admitted to an intensive care unit, and the majority of them were blood groups O (28.7%, n = 43) and A (37.0%, n = 30). In the blood group analysis of the intensive care unit (ICU) COVID-19 patients, Yaylacı et al 2020 found that the distribution of patients' blood group was O > B > A > AB (15.6%, 15.1%, 14.8%, 9.5%, respectively).…”

“…The blood types O and A were determined to have the highest abnormal chest outcome. In comparison to patients with other blood groups, Mansour et al 2021 discovered a significant association between patients with blood group A and a more severe pneumonic process in their non-contrast high-resolution CT chest with a comparatively higher severity score [29] …”