Correlation of academic scores with blood group among first MBBS medical students

Abstract

Background: The theory that there is a possible correlation between blood types and personality characteristics, other diseases, neurological disorders have been floating for a long time. Aim: The aim of our study was to explore a possible correlation between blood groups and scholastic performance in a large sample of medical students in south India. Materials: The study was conducted at Sri Muthukumaran Medical College and Research Institute, Chikkarayapuram, Chennai, India during October 2011- October 2014 Participants: Our study included 450 first year MBBS Medical students of the age group 18 to 19 years. Methods: Blood groups were collected and for assessment of scholastic performance we used +2 (twelfth standard) marks and overall internal assessment marks of the first MBBS students. Analysis of data was done using SPSS software (version 15). Conclusion: Our study revealed a considerable difference in academic scores between the blood groups O and A. Conversely, when the analysis was done individually for male and female students, there was significant correlation between academic scores. This implies gender was probably a confounding factor responsible for the initial difference in academic scores. So, the conclusion of our study was that there was no definite correlation between blood groups and academic scores.