Correlation of intensive care coronavirus disease 2019 infected patients with ABO blood group system as regards morbidity and mortality in single center, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Saudi Arabia

Objective
Exploring the risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) morbidity and mortality is an objective for many investigators.
Current study aims to find the possible relation of the ABO blood group system with COVID-19 morbidity, and mortality in our ICU patients at King Fahd Hospital of University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.


Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study. Data were collected from the Quadra Med electronic system by reviewing patients’ files over two years from January 1st, 2020, to December 31st, 2021. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS (version 20, Chicago, USA).


Results
The study sample consisted of 130 patients admitted to ICU. Patients mean age (62.2 ± 15.3-year-old). 62% males and 38% females. Patients with blood group O+ had the longest hospital stay (35.5 days), followed by A+ patients (34.3 days), and B+ patients (33.3 days), while A– blood group patients had the minimum hospitalization (24 days). The O+ blood group patients had the highest rate of emergency airway intubation, and thrombotic complications compared with patients with other blood groups (P<0.05). In addition, the O+ blood group had the highest mortality rate of 42.6%, whereas AB+ blood group patients had the lowest mortality rate of 2% (P<0.05).


Conclusion
Patients with O+ blood group are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection, morbidity, and mortality compared with patients with other blood groups. The outcomes of this research suggest earlier vaccination, intensive management, and close monitoring of O+ blood group patients for their higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 complications. Our results could be implemented through better management approaches, especially for seriously ill COVID-19 patients in our local community.