DIFFERENT SOCIAL FACTORS AND MODULATORS OF COVID-19 MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY

ABSTRACT The data of COVID-19 pandemic when analysed with different probable modulators like affecting social structure like religion, blood group, the burden of other diseases, vaccination for other diseases and many more revealed that Rh -ve blood group, irrespective of ABO blood group may be an important predisposing factor for acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection and serious disease leading to lethality. Among ABO blood groups, people with blood group A seem to be the most susceptible to COVID-19 followed by AB, O and B blood group. Among different religious groups, Muslim dominated nations had a smaller number of COVID-19 cases and deaths while those dominated by Christians had more devastating COVID-19. The BCG and to some extent Rotavirus vaccinations seem to protect the population from SARS-CoV-2 infection and deaths while other vaccinations like Polio, DPT, HepB, Measles, HiB appeared to support the SARS-CoV-2. The national burden of diseases like TB, HIV-AIDS, Malaria, cardiovascular disorders, natural calamities, fires, food deficiency and poor sanitation seems to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19. However, the burden of neoplasms (cancers) was significantly increasing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections and lethal outcome of COVID-19. The emergence of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in last two weeks of the year 2021 also had an almost similar association with different disease modulators but gaining more momentum in nations with greater coverage of DPT, HiB, HepB, Polio vaccination and higher burden of neoplasms. This analysis may help in better planning for control of COVID-19 in different societies and nations with reasonable variation in pandemic control strategy instead of a blanket package of practice to curb the disease. The limitations of data-based analysis are also discussed