Analysis of cardiac rhythm reported to ABO blood group

Type of funding sources: None.

ABO blood groups have been associated with various diseases , particularly cardiovascular diseases which are the most common causes of death in developed countries and their prevalence rate is rapidly growing in developing countries.  Cardiac arrhythmias in particular, atrial fibrillation are frequents .

The aim of this study was to research if there is a relationship between cardiac rhythm and ABO blood group.

METHODS : We included in this retrospective study patients who were hospitalized in the cardiology department of the university hospital center between 2018 and 2020 with  blood group phenotype.

RESULTS :

The study includes 90 patients, mean age was 58.86 ±14.03 years old, sex ratio 1.09 (52.2% men 47.8 % women), blood group included A 45.5 % ; AB 1.1%. B 20% O 33.3%.  On the electrocardiogram, atrial fibrillation was found in 23% of the cases, 57% related to mitral stenosis. while 77 % of the cases were in sinus rhythm.  A significant relation was found between blood group type A+ and  atrial fibrillation  (p =0.026 ; OR : 3.06 (95%CI: 1.17–6.8) ; no significant relation was found between other types of blood group and cardiac rhythm neither between blood type A and particular atrial fibrillation etiology.

CONCLUSION :

Blood group A may be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation.

Larger studies may support this finding. Understanding the physiopathology will orient towards new possible therapies.