Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology

en ABO Blood System Associated with Susceptibility, and Rhesus (Rh) Status Associated with Disease Severity in COVID-19 Patients, (Southeast of Iran) Epidemiology Original Article <div style="text-align: justify;">Background: The ABO/Rh blood groups were related to susceptibility to numerous infectious and non-infectious diseases. Here, the association of ABO/Rh groups with susceptibility to COVID-19 and disease severity was investigated in a population from southeast Iran. Material and Methods: In this descriptive study, information regarding the clinical characteristics and ABO/Rh blood groups was collected from 524 patients with COVID-19 from March to October, 2020. The data of blood groups from patients were compared with those from 7365 healthy individuals during the same period. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: No significant differences were found between COVID-19 patients and the healthy group regarding the proportions of A, B, and O blood groups. However, the proportion of the AB blood group was significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than that in healthy people (11.8% versus 8.2%, P <0.004). When the A group was considered as a reference, the AB blood group was associated to a greater risk of COVID-19 [OR: 1.45 (1.06-1.98), P<0.02]. No association was found between ABO blood groups and COVID-19 severity. The proportion of the Rh-positive blood group was slightly higher in COVID-19 patients than in the other group. The proportion of Rh-negative patients was greater in severe COVID-19 than in mild and moderate forms (P<0.001). In A, AB, and O blood groups, the proportions of Rh-negative patients were greater in severe COVID-19 than those with mild and moderate disease (P=0.05, P<0.05, and P<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The AB blood group was associated with greater susceptibility to COVID-19, while Rh-negative status was positively associated with disease severity.  </div> COVID-19,SARS-CoV-2,ABO Blood System,Rh System,Susceptibility,Disease Severity, 69 77 http://johe.rums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-61-5&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Haniyeh Maleki malekihaniye@yahoo.com 22400319475328460010742 22400319475328460010742 No M.Sc in Clinical Biochemistry, Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Fatemeh Amin ft.amin@yahoo.com 22400319475328460010743 22400319475328460010743 No Assistant Prof., Physiology‐Pharmacology Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.; Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Najmeh Parvaz najmehparvaz@gmail.com 22400319475328460010744 22400319475328460010744 No M.Sc in Clinical Biochemistry, Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Mahmood Kahnooji drmahmodkahnoji@gmail.com 22400319475328460010745 22400319475328460010745 No Assistant Prof., Dept. of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Ahmad-Reza Sayadi 22400319475328460010746 22400319475328460010746 No Assistant Prof, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Reza Vazirinejad rezavazirinejad@rums.ac.ir 22400319475328460010747 22400319475328460010747 Yes Professor, Dept. of Social Medicine, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Abdollah Jafarzadeh * Jafarzadeh14@yahoo.com 22400319475328460010748 22400319475328460010748 No Professor, Dept. of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Dept. of Immunology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan, University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences