Blood groups as risk factor of hypertension in Arar population, Northern Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a disease that has a huge impact on the health of communities. Familial patterns of hypertension suggests genetic factor as an another important non-modifiable predisposing factor, and ABO blood group is one of such factors which needs to be investigated in more details. Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension in various ABO and Rh blood group subjects, and to explore any association between ABO and Rh blood groups with hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Arar city, Northern Saudi Arabia. It included 312 participants from the general population of Northern Saudi Arabia. Data were collected by a pre-designed online questionnaire which was distributed among the population. It was self-administered, after a brief explanation of the idea of the research. The questionnaire included the clear questions to collect the relevant data. Results: the study included 312 participants 28.8% aged 30-39 years, 26.0% aged 40year or more, 85.3% were females and 79.2% were highly educated. In the studied sample, 38.1% had O blood group, 30.1% had B blood group, 26% had A blood group and 5.8% had AB blood group. About fifth (20.5%) of studied sample had hypertension; from them 20.3% group A, 7.8% AB, 25% B and 46.9% group O. The present study found that there was no significant association between hypertension and blood groups as risk factors (P = 0.274). Among hypertensive cases 85.9% Rh+ve, 14.1% Rh-ve, there was no significant association between hypertension and Rh factor (P = 489). Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that in Arar city population, we could not find any evidence that particular ABO blood group was more susceptible to develop hypertension.