Conexiant
Login
  • The Analytical Scientist
  • The Cannabis Scientist
  • The Medicine Maker
  • The Ophthalmologist
  • The Pathologist
  • The Traditional Scientist
The Pathologist
  • Explore Pathology

    Explore

    • Latest
    • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • Opinion & Personal Narratives
    • Research & Innovations
    • Product Profiles

    Featured Topics

    • Molecular Pathology
    • Infectious Disease
    • Digital Pathology

    Issues

    • Latest Issue
    • Archive
  • Subspecialties
    • Oncology
    • Histology
    • Cytology
    • Hematology
    • Endocrinology
    • Neurology
    • Microbiology & Immunology
    • Forensics
    • Pathologists' Assistants
  • Training & Education

    Career Development

    • Professional Development
    • Career Pathways
    • Workforce Trends

    Educational Resources

    • Guidelines & Recommendations
    • App Notes

    Events

    • Webinars
    • Live Events
  • Events
    • Live Events
    • Webinars
  • Profiles & Community

    People & Profiles

    • Power List
    • Voices in the Community
    • Authors & Contributors
  • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
Subscribe
Subscribe

False

The Pathologist / Issues / 2024 / Oct / How COVID-19 Cardiovascular Risks Relate to Blood Type
Hematology Genetics and epigenetics Hematology Screening and monitoring Molecular Pathology

How COVID-19 Cardiovascular Risks Relate to Blood Type

The chance of heart attacks and strokes is higher among COVID-19 patients with A, B, or AB blood types

By Helen Bristow 10/30/2024 News 2 min read

Share

Researchers examining the long-term cardiovascular risks of COVID-19 have highlighted a significant genetic association with ABO blood types.

The study, published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, used data from the UK Biobank to assess major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in 10,005 COVID-19 patients compared to 217,730 population controls, with up to 1,000 days of follow-up. The American study team aimed to determine whether COVID-19 increased the risk of MACE – including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and all-cause mortality – and whether this risk varied by blood type.

Hospitalization for COVID-19 significantly increased the risk of MACE (hazard ratio [HR], 3.85; 95 percent CI, 3.51–4.24), and this heightened risk persisted for nearly three years post-infection. Corresponding author, Hooman Allayee, adds, “"An important finding was that the increased risk of adverse cardiac events seen in severe COVID patients was comparable to the risk observed in patients who already have heart disease or other cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes.”

Most notably, the study revealed a strong genetic interaction between COVID-19 hospitalization and individuals with non-O blood types (A, B, or AB), who experienced a significantly increased risk of thrombotic events, such as MI or stroke, compared with those with blood type O. Specifically, the hazard ratio for thrombotic events in non-O blood type patients was 1.65 (95 percent CI, 1.29–2.09; P = 4.8×10⁻⁵), while no increased risk was observed in patients with blood type O (HR, 0.96; 95 percent CI, 0.66–1.39; P = 0.82).

Allayee comments, “It appears that genetics plays a role in the risk of heart attacks and stroke, since individuals with blood type A, B, or AB had higher risk than patients with blood type O. This of course raises the question of why – but a biological mechanism for the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in non-O individuals requires further study.”

The research underscores the importance of considering ABO blood type in assessing long-term cardiovascular risk in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Newsletters

Receive the latest pathology news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.

Newsletter Signup Image

About the Author(s)

Helen Bristow

Combining my dual backgrounds in science and communications to bring you compelling content in your speciality.

More Articles by Helen Bristow

Explore More in Pathology

Dive deeper into the world of pathology. Explore the latest articles, case studies, expert insights, and groundbreaking research.

False

Advertisement

Recommended

False

Related Content

Breathing New Life into Diagnostics
Genetics and epigenetics
Breathing New Life into Diagnostics

January 22, 2024

6 min read

Jonathan Edgeworth on how metagenomics could transform testing for respiratory infections

Molecular Spectacular
Genetics and epigenetics
Molecular Spectacular

January 8, 2024

1 min read

A look at last year’s most interesting molecular pathology stories

Redefining Diagnostic Reference Standards
Genetics and epigenetics
Redefining Diagnostic Reference Standards

January 3, 2022

1 min read

Find out what Horizon Discovery’s diagnostic reference standards can do for your workflow

Defining the Next Generation of NGS
Genetics and epigenetics
Defining the Next Generation of NGS

December 31, 2021

1 min read

Overcoming challenges of the typical NGS workflow with the Ion Torrent™ Genexus™ System

False

The Pathologist
Subscribe

About

  • About Us
  • Work at Conexiant Europe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 Texere Publishing Limited (trading as Conexiant), with registered number 08113419 whose registered office is at Booths No. 1, Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, England, WA16 8GS.