Researchers from various institutes across Europe have performed the first genome-wide association study has revealed that the host genetic factors may contribute to respiratory failure cases of COVID 19. The pandemic, which was declared a health emergency, has now infected more than 7.15 million people and killed over 4 lakh people across the globe.

It has been witnessed that most of the people who have contracted COVID 19 are found to have few or extremely mild symptoms. But the mortality rate has been driven by the people who are more susceptible to respiratory failure after being ill with severe pneumonia. Though the reasons are still not adequately understood, this has been found as the case in about 10% of people.

It has been noted that the severity of the diseases is associated with conditions like cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. A recent study has found a cross-replicating association between SNPs on chromosome 3 and chromosome 9 that reached genome-wide significance.

Data gathered from the preliminary study of more than 750,000 participants showed that the O blood type appeared to be more protective against the virus when compared to all other blood types. According to the data, they were between 9-to-18 percent less likely than individuals with different blood types that tested positive for COVID-19. It was also noted that the percent of respondents reporting a positive test for COVID-19 was highest among those with the AB blood type.

A lead SNP was also identified on chromosome 9 at the ABO blood group locus. Further analysis showed that A-positive participants were at a 45% increased for respiratory failure, while individuals with blood group O were at a 35% decreased risk for respiratory failure.

But after adjusting the data to take into account for factors like age and pre-existing illnesses, and restricting the data to only those with high-probability of exposure, it was found that the findings remained the same.

This research was published last week before peer review, suggesting that blood type may have a significant role to play in the severity of patients’ reactions to SARS-CoV-2. That study looked at the genes of more than 1,600 patients in Italy and Spain. They experienced respiratory failure and found that having type A blood was linked to a 50% increase in the likelihood a patient would require a ventilator.

The authors say that early clinical reports have suggested the ABO blood group system is involved in determining susceptibility to COVID-19 and has also been implicated in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-1.

(Credits: www.medicalnewstoday.com)