Correlation of perceived stress with blood group A and O among medical students and its effect on lipid profile in a medical college of eastern India

Abstract

The theory that there is a possible correlation between blood types and personality characteristics, other diseases, neurological disorders have been prevalent for a long-time. Background/Aims: To find correlation of perceived stress with blood group A and O among medical students and its effect on lipid profile in a medical college of eastern India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a time span of 6 months after taking approval from the institutional ethics committee and informed consent of the subjects. Stress level in the subjects was assessed according to the presumptive life event stress scale (PSLES). 465 subjects with scores above 200 were chosen for the study. Blood groups of the subjects were assessed (blood group O 185; A 95; B 150: AB 35 [total 465]). Lipid profiles of subjects with blood group O and A were analyzed following exposure to stress. The perceived stress scale (PSS) of Sheldon Cohen was used to measure perceived stress. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: There was no significant difference in PSLES scores, body mass index, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein between subjects of blood group O and A. PSS score was significantly higher in group O as compared to group A (22.4 ± 4.6 vs. 19.36 ± 4.9; P value 0.036*). Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was significantly higher in group O (132.63 ± 19.43 vs. 115.59 ± 18.7; P value 0.004**). PSS scores were positively correlated with LDL with r value of 0.03 [P < 0.01]). Conclusions: The results of our study indicate that subjects with blood group perceived more stress as compared to subjects of blood group A and perceived stress significantly worsened LDL-C levels.