Millions of Americans have taken personal DNA tests from companies like 23andMe to find out whether their genes put them at higher risk for diseases like breast and colon cancer. Now these tests are identifying people who are more likely to get sick with Covid-19.
23andMe on Monday published a potentially significant finding that people with the blood type O were on average 14% less likely than other blood types (A, B, AB) to get Covid and 19% less likely to be hospitalized after accounting for age, sex, comorbidities, ethnicity and body mass. Among exposed individuals, O blood types were 19% less likely to test positive. There appeared to be little difference in susceptibility among other blood types.
This preliminary finding comes from 23andMe’s analysis of 750,000 people who agreed to let their DNA be used for Covid research. Participants were also asked whether they’ve experienced cold or flu-like symptoms, been diagnosed or treated for Covid and hospitalized for the illness.
23andMe notes its finding is supported by a new pre-publication study comparing 8,582,968 gene variants from 1,610 patients in Spain and Italy who needed oxygen or mechanical ventilation. Variations at only two chromosome locations showed a significant correlation with Covid severity. One encoded blood type, A-positive, had a 45% higher risk of respiratory failure while Os had a 35% lower risk.
Studies have previously found links between blood types and infectious and chronic diseases. For instance, Os appear to have lower risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. The blood type gene is located in a stretch of DNA that regulates inflammation and blood clotting, which play a significant role in Covid-19.
The authors of the European study note that variation at the chromosome location for blood type has been associated with blood-clotting factors and interleukin-6, an inflammatory protein involved in cytokine storms that attack the respiratory system.
23andMe is sending free kits to 10,000 severely ill Covid patients in hopes of identifying more significant genetic links. These findings could help guide treatment decisions and provide another lead for scientists trying to crack the Covid-19 mystery.
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June 11, 2020 at 06:25AM
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Covid, DNA and Blood Type - The Wall Street Journal
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