Association of ABO blood group and coronary heart disease in blood donors-Results from a cohort study in Australia.

BACKGROUND

ABO blood groups may be associated with increased risk for several diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), particularly coronary heart disease (CHD). The role of other significant blood group systems, such as RhD and RhCE, has not been extensively investigated.

METHODS

We linked The Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study to blood donation records and other health data to examine the association between ABO and Rh blood groups with CVD, CHD, and Cerebrovascular disease (CeVD). We used ICD10 codes from hospital admission data to ascertain the study outcomes. Cox-proportional hazards regression models were performed to assess the association.

RESULTS

A total of 32,510 blood donors were included. Over an average follow-up period of just over 10 years, 8.3%, 5.4%, and 2.3% developed CVD, CHD, and CeVD, respectively. CHD incidence was highest among individuals with group AB (6.6/1000 person-years). Compared to group O, fully adjusted hazard ratios for CHD were: A, 1.05 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.95-1.16); B, 0.99 (0.84-1.16); AB, 1.27 (1.01-1.59). RhD or RhCE blood groups were not associated with CHD. For CeVD, 738 cases (2.3%) occurred, with no evidence of associations found for ABO, RhD, or RhCE blood groups. No significant association was observed between ABO blood group and all CVDs considered together as an outcome.

CONCLUSION

There was a borderline association of higher CHD risk in individuals with blood group AB compared with group O, whereas no association was observed for groups A or B individually.