Relationship Between Blood Groups and Cardiovascular Diseases: Insights From an Algerian Inpatient Study.

Introduction:  Research on the association between blood groups and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Africa, including Algeria, is notably limited, with a primary focus on blood donors. This narrow scope hinders a comprehensive understanding of the genetic diversity of blood groups and their potential links to CVD risk within the African context. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study proposes to investigate the distribution of blood group genotypes and their association with CVD prevalence, aiming to enhance knowledge within the African context and contribute to global insights into the relationship between blood groups and CVD.

Methods:  This retrospective study was conducted within the Cardiology A2 Department of Mustapha Bacha University Hospital (CHU) in Algiers, Algeria. The inclusion criteria comprised patients aged 18 years or older with confirmed diagnoses of CVDs. Conversely, patients without confirmed diagnoses or documented blood groups were excluded from the study. Data collection encompassed key cardiovascular risk factors, and blood groups were determined using standard serological testing methods. Statistical analyses were performed utilizing R and Jamovi software, with a predefined significance threshold of p < 0.05.

Results:  Our analysis of a 2,780-patient cohort (61.7% male, mean age: 62.53 ± 13.06 years) revealed a predominance of blood type O (42.84%), followed by A (32.27%), B (16.19%), and AB (8.71%), with 93.42% of the cohort being Rhesus (Rh)-positive. The calculated ABO allele frequencies were 0.2315 (A), 0.1319 (B), and 0.6532 (O), indicating a significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) (χ² = 47.88, p < 0.05), whereas the Rh distribution remained in equilibrium. Hypertension (94.50%), dyslipidemia (94.03%), and diabetes (79.57%) were the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was the leading diagnosis (39.75%), and notably, no significant associations were observed between blood groups and cardiovascular conditions or risk factors, except for a marginally higher prevalence of arrhythmia among Rh-negative (Rh-) individuals (9.29% vs. 5.81%).

Conclusion:  This study provides novel insights into the distribution of ABO and Rh blood types among Algerian patients with CVD, highlighting a prevalence of Group O and Rh-positive (Rh+) individuals, though without significant associations between blood groups and major cardiovascular risk factors. Contrary to previous findings suggesting elevated cardiovascular risk in non-O blood groups, our results did not establish significant associations between blood groups and cardiovascular conditions or risk factors. The high prevalence of ACS, hypertension (particularly among older males), dyslipidemia, and smoking underscore the urgent need for targeted preventive strategies and further research to elucidate the complex interplay between blood types, genetic factors, and CVD in this population. These findings emphasize the necessity for addressing modifiable risk factors through education and preventive measures to improve cardiovascular outcomes.