ABO Blood Type does not Influence Blood Pressure Levels in Healthy Indian Adolescents

Background & Aims : ABO blood group antigens are well known genetic risk factors for various diseases. These antigens were reported as a non-modifiable risk factor for the development of hypertension independent of conventional modifiable risk factors. These findings were based on populations with pre-existing hypertension; however, such a relationship was rarely evaluated in normal healthy subjects. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 400 healthy adolescents (203 males and 197 females) aged 17 to 25 years. The slide agglutination method was used for the determination of ABO blood typing. A standardized mercury sphygmomanometer was used for recording BP. Pulse Pressure (PP) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) were also calculated. JNC-8 guidelines were used for calculation of the prevalence of elevated BP across ABO groups. ANOVA test was used to compare BP values in ABO blood groups. Chi-square correlation was used to assess frequency distribution of ABO blood groups among hypertensive and normal subjects. Results : Blood group B was most prevalent (35.2%) in our study. The highest average values of SBP DBP, PP, and MAP were recorded in blood group AB. The observed differences in the mean values of BP indices across ABO blood groups were statistically insignificant. Maximum subjects with elevated blood pressure were found in blood group A (n=12;10.81%) but no significant association was observed between ABO blood groups and elevated blood pressure. Conclusion : Tendencies for developing elevated BP levels have no significant association with ABO blood groups in young healthy subjects of any gender.