A prospective study on the relationship between blood pressure and blood group among adult male blood donors in a Tertiary care center

Anne Varghese; Minu Liz Abraham; Reshmi Ramachandran; Sunitha Thomas

Anne Varghese Departments of Physiology, Alappuzha Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India.
Minu Liz Abraham Departments of Physiology, Alappuzha Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India.
Reshmi Ramachandran Department of Community Medicine, Alappuzha Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India.
Sunitha Thomas Department of Pathology, MOSC Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India.

Keywords: ABO blood group, diastolic blood pressure, hypertension systolic blood pressure

Abstract

Background and Aim: The ABO blood type, an easily accessible factor in patient’s genetic make-up has been associated with many diseases; perhaps the ABO antigens play a role by influencing renin levels. It may be speculated that since blood pressure (BP) is multifactorial, the ABO antigens may indirectly influence arterial pressure. Therefore, in the present study, we intend to assess the relationship between BP and blood group among the male blood donors (20–60 years) attending the blood bank in a tertiary care center. Methods: Basal cardiovascular parameters such as basal heart rate, systolic BP, diastolic BP (DBP) and rate pressure product (RPP) were recorded. ABO and Rh (D) blood groups were also determined for each subject. Tube test for ABO and Rh typing of red cells and serum typing was done on the donor blood samples. Results: The test group comprised of 767 subjects within the age-group of 20–60 years. All the values were expressed as mean ± standard deviation with the P< 0.05 as statistically significant. DBP was found to be significantly associated with blood group. Conclusion: There was a positive correlation between DBP and blood groups, but RPP was not found to be significant between the groups. Hence, we presume that further studies with a population-based screening of various blood groups might help in identifying and modifying the risk factors for hypertension.