Coronavirus: 23andMe suggests blood type plays role in who is more likely to get COVID-19

The DNA genetic testing and analysis company 23andMe has released research that seems to show a connection between a person’s blood type and the likelihood that they will be diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

On Monday, 23andMe released early results from a study involving more than 750,000 participants that appear to show that people with type O blood are less likely to be infected with the COVID-19 virus.

The results of the study are preliminary and have not been peer-reviewed, but they are similar to results from other studies that have shown that people with type O blood seem to have fewer incidents of both infection with COVID-19 and requiring a ventilator for treatment.

A study conducted in March by Chinese researchers showed that the number of people with type O blood diagnosed with COVID-19 at medical facilities in Wuhan was lower than those with other blood types.

The 23andMe study, which began in April included 750,000 participants. The company used the millions of profiles in its DNA database to try to examine the role genetics play in the disease, researchers said. More than 10,000 participants had been diagnosed with COVID-19.

What researchers discovered is that those with type O blood were between 9% and 18% less likely than individuals with other blood types to have tested positive for the virus.

When it came to the other blood types – A, B and AB – there was little difference the numbers of people who tested positive for the disease.

Anne Wojcicki, CEO of 23andMe, told Bloomberg Technology that the company surveyed customers regarding their experiences with COVID-19 and that 750,000 customers responded to the questionnaire. Wojcicki added that the 9% to 18% number held true when it was adjusted for sex, body mass and age.

“There have also been some reports of links between COVID-19, blood clotting and cardiovascular disease,” Adam Auton, the study’s lead researcher, told Bloomberg. “These reports provided some hints about which genes might be relevant.”

“It’s early days. Even with these sample sizes, it might not be enough to find genetic associations,” Auton said. “We’re not the only group looking at this, and ultimately the scientific community may need to pool their resources to really address questions surrounding the links between genetics and COVID-19.”

A study conducted in Europe that has yet to be peer-reviewed also showed that those with type O blood seem less likely to contract the virus.

The study looked at the genes of more than 1,600 patients in Italy and Spain who tested positive for COVID-19 and suffered respiratory failure. According to researchers, those studied who had type A blood was linked to a 50% increase in the likelihood they would require a ventilator.

The March Chinese study showed similar results for those with type A blood.

Cox Media Group