Background: Genetic factors are one of the non modifiable risk factors for ischemic heart disease. The ABO blood group is one such pivotal genetic determinant that can give valuable information for early detection of risk population. The objective of our study was to assess the relationship between blood group and ischemic heart disease.

Method: 200 ischemic heart disease patients were included in this study. Study protocol included detailed clinical history, examination and investigations. Blood groups were determined using the slide haemagglutination technique.

Result: In the present study of 200 patients, 45% (90) had blood group B, 30% (60) had blood group A, 16%(32) had blood group O and 9%(18) had blood group AB. A total of 200 patients 150(75%) were Rh-positive, while 50 (25%) were Rh -negative.

Conclusion:  Ischemic heart disease was higher in patients with blood group B (45%) than in other blood groups. More case control studies with a larger population are needed to confirm this association.

Keywords: ABO blood group, Ischemic heart disease, Rh blood group.

1. Sheikh M K, Bahari MB, Yusoff NM , Knight A. Association of ABO Blood Group B with Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 2009; 19 (8): 514-517.
2. Von Beckerath N, Koch W, Mehilli J, Gorchakova, Braun S,Schomig A, et al. ABO locus O1 allele and risk of myocardial infarction. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2004; 15:61-67.
3. Platt D, Muhlberg W, Kiehl L, Schmitt-Ruth R. ABO blood group system, age, sex, risk factors and cardiac infarction. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 1985; 4:241-249.
4. Meade TW, Cooper JA, Stirling Y, Howarth DJ, Ruddock V, Miller GJ. Factor VIII, ABO blood group and the incidence of ischaemic heart disease. Br J Haematol 1994; 88:601-607.
5. Sari I, Ozer O, Davutoglu V, Gorglu S, Eren M, Aksoy M. ABO blood group distribution and major cardiovascular risk factors in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2008; 19:231-4.
6. Amirzadegan A, Salarifar M, Sadeghian S, Davoodi G, Darabian C, Goodarzynejad H. Correlation between ABO blood groups, major risk factors, and coronary artery disease. Int J Cardiol 2006;110:256-258.
7. Pedoe TH, Kulasmma k, Arnouejel P. Myocardial infarction and coronary deaths. WHO Monica project. Circulation. 90583, 1994.
8. Finegold JA, Asaria P, Francis DP. Mortality from Ischaemic heart disease by country, region, and age: Statistics from World Health Organisation and United Nations. International Journal of Cardiology 2013;168 :934–945.
9. Djibril Marie BA et al. Cardiovascular disease and ABO blood-groups in Africans. Are blood-group A individuals at higher risk of ischemic disease?: A pilot study. The Egyptian Heart Journal 2017; 69: 229–234.
10. Kaur M, Gill K, Bassi R, Kaur D. Association of abo and rh blood groups With hypertension. Pak J Physiol. 2016; 12(2):11–14.
11. Medalie J, Levene C, Papier C, Goldbourt U, Dreyfuss F, Oron D.Blood groups, myocardial infarction and angina pectoris among 10,000 adult males. N Engl J Med 1971;285:1348–1353.
12. Garrison R, Havlik R, Harris R, Feinleib M, Kannel W, Padgett S. ABO blood group and cardiovascular disease. Atheroscler1976;25:311–318.
13. Erikssen J, Thaulow E, Stormorken H, Brendemoen O, Hellem A. ABO blood groups and coronary artery disease (CHD): a study in subjects with severe and latent CHD. Thromb Haemost 1980;43:137–140.
14. Dentali F et al. Non-O blood type is the commonest genetic risk factor for VTE: results from a meta-analysis of the literature. Semin Thromb Hemost 2012;38:535–548.
15. Chowdhary S, Sharma V, Chowdhary S. Study of association of ABO blood group with ischemic heart disease. International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health 2016;5(3): 468-472.
16. Nydegger UE, Wuillemin WA, Julmy F, Meyer BJ,Carrel TP.Association of ABO histo-blood group B allele with myocardial Infarction. Eur J Immunogenet 2003; 30: 201-206.
17. Garg P, Kumar J, Choudhary R, Chawla VK .Association between ABO Blood Groups and Myocardial Infarction in Jodhpur City of India.Journal of Bangladesh Society of Physiologist 2012; 7(1):13-17.
18. Tarjan Z, Tonelli M, Duba J, Zorandi A. Correlation between ABO and Rh blood group: Serum Cholesterol and Ischemic Heart Disease in Patients Undergoing Coronarography.Orvosi Hetilap 1995; 136(15): 767-769.
19. Biswas J et al. Relationship between blood groups and coronary artery disease. Mymensingh Medical Journal 2008; 17(2 Suppl): S22-27.
20. Mitchell J R. An association between ABO blood-group distribution and geographical differences in death-rates. Lancet 1977; 1: 295-297.
21. Januszkiewicz L et al.Association of blood groups with prognosis in acute coronary syndrome. Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej 2013; 123 (9):460-465.

Dr. Shruthi B

Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Balagangadharanatha Nagar, Nagamangala (Tq), Mandya (District) .PIN- 571448, Karnataka (State), India

Phone+917353285911, FAX: +08234287344, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.