New research conducted by collaborative institutions in China and the Southern University of Science and Technology, in Shenzhen, China looks at the role of blood types and specifically Type A blood in hospitalizations due to the novel coronavirus.
The recent coronavirus infection has now become a global pandemic. Governments around the world are taking a big number of preventive measures to help stop the further spread of the health condition.
However, many countries have been seen to be hit severely with the coronavirus epidemic. The latest news on its effects around the world shows that some countries may even face worse conditions and a higher number of cases in comparison with China.
Recently, the number of cases on Wuhan has been controlled and no new cases have been reported so far. On the other hand, Italy’s death toll and cases have surpassed China with the country facing a major health crisis.
Additionally, more and more cases are also being diagnosed in several countries in Asia including Iran, India, and Pakistan. In the midst of this, there are ongoing clinical trials and research to help understand the virus and its transmission better.
According to the World Health Organization, the virus can spread from even the slightest person to person contact which is why health experts are discouraging public gatherings of any kind.
Secondly, some studies have also noted that the coronavirus infection is more likely to spread from people who do not show any symptoms. This is because a person with symptoms is more likely to stay at home and avoid meeting the public than someone who does not experience symptoms.
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After contracting the virus, the affected person is likely to see symptoms such as the runny nose, flu, dry cough, and diarrhea within seven to fourteen days which is why it is important to follow all guidelines and only go out when it is absolutely needed.
Till now, only adults over the age of fifty, very young children, people with existent health conditions including diabetes and heart disease as well as those with compromised immune systems were deemed as more vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.
Now, the new study, whose findings are yet to be published but are available online, looks at how the blood type of a person can increase the risk of contracting the virus.
To do so, the researchers assessed blood group distribution among 2,173 who were admitted to the hospital due to coronavirus symptoms. The distribution was then compared to a group, which was a representation of the general public.
After doing so, the researchers noted that people with Type A blood were present in a higher number in the group of coronavirus patients than in the representative group.
Secondly, it was also noted that people with Type O blood had a low proportion in the hospitalized group in comparison with the representative group.
The first author of the study, Jiao Zhao, and the team explain these findings by saying “People with blood group A have a significantly higher risk for acquiring COVID-19, compared with non-A blood groups, whereas blood group O has a significantly lower risk for the infection, compared with non-O blood groups.”
However, the findings of the study could also purely just be a correlation. There is further research required to confirm these findings.
