ABO/rhesus D blood systems and health indices: a preliminary study to find an association among healthy dwellers of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

OBJECTIVE

Finding an association between blood groups and diseases would help prevention, early identification, and treatment of diseases. The preliminary study aimed to find an association between ABO/rhesus D blood systems and health indices among healthy dwellers of the Nuwaragampalatha East Medical Officer of Health area of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

RESULTS

A total of 100 participants were recruited. The blood group in Driving License (67%), Pregnancy Record (17%), Blood Donation Card (11%), Laboratory Report (03%), Old Boy Identity Card (01%), and Service Identity Card (01%) matched the laboratory blood grouping in all participants. The O blood group had significantly fewer hours of sleep per day (P = 0.03) and significantly narrower pulse pressure (P = 0.02) than the non-O blood group. Also, the O + blood group had significantly fewer hours of sleep per day than the A + blood group (P < 0.01). Evidence in the literature is scarce to support these findings. Future large-scale studies among healthy and patient populations are necessary for confirmation.