A new study suggests that people with blood group A, B and those with Rh factor (Rhesus factor) positive are more "susceptible to COVID-19 infection" compared to those having O or AB group and Rh negative. The study was conducted by the doctors at a Delhi hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

A statement released by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) on Tuesday reveals that the research was conducted on a total of 2,586 COVID-positive patients. They tested patients who were admitted to the hospital from April 8 to October 4 in 2020 through real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The study was carried by the Department of Research and Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine at the SGRH. It has been published in the November 21 edition of 'Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology'.

The study says that "people having blood groups A, B and Rh+ are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection whereas (those with) O, AB and Rh- are at lower risk of COVID-19 infection." The research also claims that "there is no association between blood groups, and susceptibility to severity of disease as well as mortality."

(PTI)