Blood Type 'O', Lower Risk of COVID-19 Infection

US Genetic Testing Company 23andMe Research Results
Researchers from China and Columbia University Also Reach Similar Conclusion
O Blood Type Characteristics Observed Even After Controlling for Age, Gender, and Underlying Conditions

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] A study has found that people with blood type O have a lower probability of being infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

According to a study by the U.S. genetic analysis company 23andMe on the 8th (local time), patients with blood type O were found to have a 9-18% lower chance of being infected with COVID-19. This preliminary research result was drawn from a study involving 750,000 people.

Blood type Photo by Getty Images Bank

Among frontline healthcare workers exposed to the risk of COVID-19 infection, those with blood type O were found to have a 13-26% lower probability of testing positive compared to those with other blood types.

Other blood types, excluding type O, did not show significant differences in the likelihood of COVID-19 infection.

The research team emphasized the significance of this finding, noting that COVID-19 is also linked to blood clotting and cardiovascular diseases.

This research result is similar to two other studies addressing the correlation between blood type and COVID-19. Chinese researchers previously reported that people with blood type O have a lower likelihood of contracting COVID-19. Researchers at Columbia University in the U.S. also introduced findings that people with blood type O had fewer positive cases compared to those with other blood types. However, while the Columbia University team reported that only RH+ type O showed a lower transmissibility effect, the 23andMe researchers stated that there was no significant difference between RH+ and RH- among blood type O individuals.

In the past, researchers have also tried to clarify the correlation between blood type and infection rates in malaria. Blood can act as a virus, toxin, or receptor, or conversely, serve as a receptor that interferes with binding to human tissues.

The lower positive test rate for type O showed a characteristic of lower infection rates even after adjusting for factors such as age, gender, underlying diseases, and body mass index (BMI) among the study subjects. However, this study is preliminary and has not yet undergone review by medical journals or other authorities.