Early research from 23andMe strengthens link between blood types and Covid-19

[Klaralven]

Aforthcoming study from genetic testing giant 23andMe shows that a person’s genetic code could be connected to how likely they are to catch Covid-19 — and how severely they could experience the disease if they catch it. It’s an important confirmation of earlier work on the subject.

People whose blood group is O seemed to test positive for Covid-19 less often than expected when compared to people with any other blood group, according to 23andMe’s data; people who tested positive and had a specific variant of another gene also seemed to be more likely to have serious respiratory symptoms.

The study, which was released on a preprint server and which has not yet been peer-reviewed, could extend and confirm earlier work on the subject; 23andMe’s study relied on a larger dataset than earlier work and included a more diverse set of participants, the company said. Experts who aren’t affiliated with 23andMe praised the study design and the work.

“They clarify further what our data could only vaguely hint at,” said Tom Hemming Karlsen, a physician at Oslo University Hospital who published an article in the New England Journal of Medicine on genetic links with Covid-19 severity in June, and who was not associated with 23andMe’s work.

https://www.statnews.com/2020/09/14/23andme-study-covid-19-genetic-link/

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.04.20188318v1.full.pdf

[BComplex]

1. "O -" here. Whew!

Glad to know that. Is there some way us O people can help out the others?

[Midnight Writer]

2. Wear a mask.

I've got a triple whammy. I'm old, I'm not type O, and I have high testosterone.

On the other hand, no diabetes, no heart problem, no respiratory issues, and I have health insurance.

Trump seems determined to put me to the test.

[BComplex]

4. I always do. I just wish I could help out people who are symptomatic.

[FreeState]

3. My significant other is type O

He tested positive last week (asymptotic). I got tested and am negative. My blood type is AB+. (One data point I know). We share(d) a bed, food, drinks etc., we even had sex the day before he had his test. I think there may be a lot of factors as to who gets it and who doesn’t. We are both being retested next week.

It will be interesting to see what the peer review shows.