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AimTo examine ABO and Rh blood group distribution in COVID-19 related deaths considering demographics and pathological conditions. Materials and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study at the University Hospital Centre Split, Croatia, that included 245 COVID-positive individuals that died from April 8, 2020, to January 25, 2021. From the hospital database, we extracted data on their blood groups, demographics, and pre-existing comorbidities. To compare findings with the general population, we used information from collected blood group donations (n = 101357) and statistical reports of non-COVID deaths from 2019 (n = 4968). ResultsThe proportion of males was significantly higher in analyzed subjects than in non- COVID deaths from 2019 (63.7% vs. 48.9%, P < 0.001), while the proportion of older individuals did not differ (P = 0.8). The most common pre-existing diseases were hypertension (59.6%), diabetes (37.1%), heart failure (28.8%), digestive disorder (26.5%), and solid tumor (21.6%). The ABO distribution in the deceased and donors group showed statistically significant differences, with the higher prevalence of A/AB group and lower prevalence of 0, but with individual differences significant only for AB and non-AB groups. There was a significantly reduced proportion of females within the deceased with group 0 (P = 0.014) and a higher proportion of AB individuals with coronary heart disease (P = 0.024), while other differences were not significant. ConclusionThe study confirmed a higher risk of death in male individuals. The lower proportion of type 0 in deceased individuals was more pronounced in females, implying that group 0 is not necessarily an independent protective factor. Among analyzed comorbidities, coronary heart disease was identified as a potential risk factor for AB individuals.
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Rapid serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies have been questioned by scientists and the public because of unexplored effects of negative test results on behaviour and attitudes, that could lower the level of adherence to protective measures. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the changes in personal attitudes and behaviour before and after negative serological test results for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We conducted a survey questionnaire on 200 industry workers (69% males and 31% females) that have been previously tested negative. The survey examined participants self-reported general attitudes towards COVID-19, sense of fear, as well as their behaviour related to protective measures before and after the testing. The participants perceived the disease as a severe health threat and acknowledged the protective measures as appropriate. They reported a high level of adherence to measures and low level of fear both before and after the testing. Although those indicators were statistically significantly reduced after the test (P < 0.004), they did not result in risk behaviour. Therefore, the serological tests are not an additional threat regarding the risk behaviour in an environment where protective measures are efficient. In contrast, they might contribute to reducing the fear in the society and working environment.
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BACKGROUNDAs a result of global spread, COVID-19 has also affected the Republic of Croatia in the last week of February. Although official data show that the number of newly infected is declining, it is still unknown what proportion of the population has been affected by the disease. AIMTo examine seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in industry workers population sample. METHODSFrom 23 to 28 April 2020, we conducted serological testing for antibodies (IgG and IgM) on 1494 factory employees living in the Split-Dalmatia and [S]ibenik-Knin County (Croatia). We analysed antibody seroprevalence on the level of the company, county, and separately for employees living at the factory premises with limited mobility during the lockdown measures. RESULTSIn a total sample of tested company employees, we detected antibodies in 1.27% of participants (95% CI 0.77-1.98%). In Split facility 13/1316 (0.99%, 95% CI 0.53-1.68%) of participants were tested positive, of which 13/1079 (1.20%, 95% CI 0.64-2.05%) of those living outside the facility and 0/237 (0%, 95% CI 0-1.26%) of those living inside the facility. In Knin facility, 6/178 (3.37%, 95% CI 1.25-7.19%) participants were tested positive for antibodies. The difference between Split (no mobility restrictions) and Knin, was not statistically significant ({chi}2 = 3.47, P = 0.062). CONCLUSIONSThe study showed relatively small SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in the DIV Group population sample. When the study findings are interpreted on the county levels, they could indicate that most of the counties population was not exposed to the virus.
