The association between blood group and the risk of vascular disease in Quebec blood donors

Impact of ABO blood type on the risk of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation

Background

Blood types are classified based on the specific antigenic characteristics they possess. Despite documented associations between antigens and inflammation, a scarcity of data exists concerning the impact of antigens on atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

OSHOH-rhythm study is a multi-center, prospective observational study of 601 patients who underwent catheter ablation for AF. We examined the correlation between blood type groups and both the incidence and recurrence of AF. Additionally, we analyzed the recurrence of AF across antigenic profiles.

Results

The frequencies of individual blood types were 239 (39.8 %), 190 (31.6 %), 122 (20.3 %), and 50 (8.3 %) for A, O, B, and AB, respectively, aligning closely with the prevalent blood type distribution among the Japanese populace. During follow-up period (18.8 months, median), AF recurrence occurred in 96 patients (22.4 %) lacking the B antigen (A and O), and 26 patients (15.1 %) possessing B antigen (B and AB), respectively (Log-rank test: P = 0.034). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that blood types lacking the B antigen (hazard ratio [HR], 1.55; 95 % CI, 1.01 to 2.42; P = 0.037), hypertension (HR, 1.51; 95 % CI, 1.05 to 2.17; P = 0.026) and non-paroxysmal AF (HR, 1.70; 95 % CI, 1.17 to 2.47; P = 0.005) were independently associated with the recurrence of AF.

Conclusions

This study elucidates that, despite the absence of direct correlation between blood types and the occurrence of AF, blood types devoid of the B antigen exhibit an enhanced predisposition to AF recurrence. Nonetheless, the intricate mechanism linking blood type to recurrence remains elusive, warranting further comprehensive foundational research on blood types.

Is the Development of Gestational Diabetes Associated With the ABO Blood Group/Rhesus Phenotype?

AIMS

There are few published data on the putative association between the ABO blood group/rhesus (Rh) factor and the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Our aim was to explore the link between each one factor and GDM development.

METHODS

All women having given birth at Lille University Medical Center (Lille, France) between August 1^st, 2017, and February 28^th, 2018, were tested for GDM, using the method recommended in the French national guidelines. The risk of GDM was assessed for each ABO blood group, each Rh phenotype and combinations thereof, using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

1194 women had at least one GDM risk factor. The percentage of GDM varied with the ABO group (p=0.013). Relative to group O women, group AB women were more likely to develop GDM (OR = 2.50, 95% CI [1.43 to 4.36], p=0.001). Compared with the Rh-positive O group, only the Rh-positive AB group had an elevated risk of developing GDM (OR = 3.02, 95% CI [1.69 to 5.39], p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that Rh-positive group AB women have a greater risk of GDM. With a view to preventing GDM, at-risk individuals could be identified by considering the ABO blood group phenotype either as a single risk factor or in combination with other risk factors.

Relationship between ABO blood groups and cardiovascular disease in type 1 diabetes according to diabetic nephropathy status

Background

ABO blood groups have previously been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between ABO blood groups and CVD in individuals with type 1 diabetes according to diabetic nephropathy (DN) status.

Methods

Adults with type 1 diabetes (4531 individuals) from the FinnDiane Study were evaluated. DN was determined by two out of three measurements of urinary albumin excretion rate. Albuminuria was defined as an excretion rate above 20 µg/min. CVD events were identified by linking the data with the Finnish Care Register for Health Care and the Finnish Cause of Death Register. Follow-up ranged from the baseline visit until a CVD event, death or the end of 2017. The impact of ABO blood groups on CVD risk was estimated by multivariable Cox-regression analyses adjusted for traditional risk factors.

Results

At baseline, the median age was 38.5 (IQR 29.2–47.9) years, 47.5% were female and median duration of diabetes was 20.9 (11.4–30.7) years. There were 893 incident ischemic heart disease (IHD) events, 301 ischemic strokes (IS), and 415 peripheral artery disease (PAD) events during a median follow up of 16.5 (IQR 12.8–18.6) years. The A blood group showed the highest risk of IHD versus the O blood group, when microalbuminuria was present. Comparing the population with microalbuminuria with those with normoalbuminuria, only the A blood group elevated the risk of IHD. This increased risk was neither explained by the FUT2 secretor phenotype nor by the A-genotype distribution. The risk of IS or PAD was no different among the ABO blood groups regardless of diabetic nephropathy stage.

Conclusion

The A blood group is a risk factor for IHD in individuals with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria.

Targeted Sequencing Study to Uncover Shared Genetic Susceptibility Between Peripheral Artery Disease and Coronary Heart Disease-Brief Report

Objective- It is unclear to what extent genetic susceptibility variants are shared between peripheral artery disease (PAD) and coronary heart disease (CHD), both manifestations of atherosclerotic vascular disease. We investigated whether common and low-frequency/rare variants in loci associated with CHD are also associated with PAD. Approach and Results- Targeted sequencing of 41 genomic regions associated with CHD in genome-wide association studies was performed in 1749 PAD cases (65±11 years, 61% men) and 1855 controls (60±11 years, 56% men) of European ancestry. PAD cases had a resting/postexercise ankle-brachial index ≤0.9, or history of lower extremity revascularization; controls had no history of PAD. We tested the association of common (defined as minor allele frequency ≥5%) variants with PAD assuming an additive genetic model with adjustment for age and sex. To identify low-frequency/rare variants (minor allele frequency <5%) associated with PAD, we conducted gene-level analyses using sequence kernel association test and permutation test. After Bonferroni correction, we found common variants in SH2B3, ABO, and ZEB2 to be associated with PAD ( P<4.5×10^-5). At the gene level, the strongest associations were for LPL and SH2B3. Conclusions- Targeted sequencing of 41 genomic regions associated with CHD revealed several common variants/genes to be associated with PAD, highlighting the basis of shared genetic susceptibility between CHD and PAD.

Coronary Heart Disease and ABO Blood Group in Diabetic Women: A Case-Control Study

Numerous investigations conducted in general population have reported that certain ABO blood group may increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, this association has not been yet well established and even is less clear in diabetic patients. Considering that women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at greater risk to develop CHD and have higher cardiovascular mortality, this study aimed to evaluate the association between CHD and ABO blood group in women with T2DM. A case control study of eight hundred eighty-one (881) diabetic women was enrolled in this study. Among them, two hundred thirty eight (238) patients were identified to have CHD (CHD+) and two hundred eighty two (282) of them were identified without CHD but matched with the first group for other CHD risk factors (CHD-). ABO blood type (A, B, AB, O, and Rhesus factor) for both groups were determined. To compare the magnitude of the correlation between various blood groups with CHD development, odd ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated. Our results demonstrates that the percentage of AB blood group was significantly higher in the diabetic women with concurrent CHD than in those without CHD [30 (12.7%) vs. 13 (4.6%), Odd ratio: 2.9 (95%CI: 1.5-5.7), P = 0.001]. The results of the present study clearly demonstrate that the AB blood group has a higher odd ratio for the development of CHD and can be considered as a risk factor for the development of CHD in females with T2DM. More comprehensive studies are required to confirm these results.

Association Between ABO Blood Type and Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Patients Undergoing Unilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty Surgery in China

Background

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a postoperative complication after surgery and anesthesia. Whether ABO blood types are associated with POCD in elderly patients undergoing unilateral total hip arthroplasty surgery in China is unclear.

Material/Methods

Firstly, 142 elderly patients were divided into a POCD group and a non-POCD group according to the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and ABO blood types were analyzed. Secondly, according to ABO blood type, the selected 226 patients were divided into 4 groups: type A group, type B group, type AB group, and type O group. Then, all patients completed the MMSE before and after surgery. Finally, the occurrence of POCD was recorded and related data were analyzed.

Results

Firstly, there was a significant difference in both groups in terms of distribution of ABO blood types, and elderly patients who developed POCD were more likely to have type A blood and less likely to have type O blood. Secondly, compared with elderly patients with type A blood, those with type O had higher MMSE scores on the first day and the seventh day after surgery. Finally, the risk of developing POCD was significantly higher in patients with type A blood and on the first day and the seventh day after surgery the risk of developing POCD was significantly lower in patients with type O blood.

Conclusions

Elderly patients with type A blood have higher risk of developing early POCD and those with type O blood have less risk of developing early POCD.

Increased Vasoocclusive Crises in "O" Blood Group Sickle Cell Disease Patients: Association with Underlying Thrombospondin Levels

Objectives

To explore the incidence of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) in Blood Group “O” sickle cell disease (SCD) patients, and correlate it with the blood group and thrombospondin (TSP) levels.

Methods

In 89 consecutive SCD patients, blood samples were obtained for von Williebrand factor (vWF:Ag) antigen, collagen binding activity (CBA), ristocetin binding activity (RCo), blood group typing, C-reactive protein (CRP), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Serum TSP 1 and TSP 2 levels, complete blood counts (CBC), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, liver function (LFT) and renal function tests (RFT) during VOC episodes and in steady state conditions.

Results

In steady state SCD patients (n=72), “O” blood group patients (n=37) showed a significantly higher median serum TSP 1 and TSP 2 levels as compared to non-O blood group patients [n=35] [p <0.05, Mann-Whitney test]; with an inverse relation between vWF:Ag, Factor VIII:C and TSP levels. Furthermore, the serum TSP 1 and TSP 2 levels were significantly higher in patients presenting with acute VOC [n=17], as well as in those with repeated VOC’s (group 1, n=16), especially amongst blood group “O” patients [p, <0.05, Mann-Whitney test].

Conclusions

The study demonstrates an inverse relation between TSP and vWF levels, in blood group “O” SCD patients, with an upregulation of the TSP levels. Expectedly, during active VOC crisis, the TSP 1 and TSP 2 levels were significantly elevated.