Relationship of ABO Blood Groups and Rh Factor with Ischemic Heart Disease at Khartoum State

Abstract

The aim of the study was to find out the relationship between ABO blood groups and Rhesus factors (Rh) with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and possible risk factors .The study was conducted in Ahmed Gasm and Alshaab Hospitals in Khartoum State during the period from April to September 2018.Prior to the study, ethical clearance was obtained from the authorized bodies and a written consent was taken from all the participants. The study included 40IHD patients, comprising 21(52.5%) males and 19(47.5%) females and 60 controls comprising 52(86.7%) males and eight (13.3) females.The participants age range was (40 -80) years and 67.5% of them were (40-60) years old. The patients were interviewed and relevant data were obtained through a questionnaire. Blood groups and Rh factor were determined by slide technique using specific antibodies. IHD was more common in males than female. The common blood group was O (57.5%) followed by A(25%),B (12.5%) and AB(5%) groups and the corresponding percentages for the control were 65% , 23.3%, 11.3% and zero, respectively. It was found that 85%of IHD patients and 90% of the control were Rh positive. No significant association was found between IHD and ABO blood group or Rhesus factor. It is concluded that ABO/Rh blood groups are not risk factors for IHD .Smoking , diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia are considered risk factors for IHD. It is recommended that wide scale studies to be carried out in Sudan to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for IHD.