Relationship between ABO Blood Group and Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Undergoing Elective Coronary Angiography

The ABO blood group antigens have been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular mortality. However, there are some controversies in this regard. We sought to determine the association between the ABO blood group and the severity of CAD among patients undergoing elective diagnostic coronary angiography (CAG).

In this retrospective study, patients undergoing elective CAG were recruited during a year, from January to December 2019. The diagnosis of CAD was based on the narrowing of coronary artery lumen (<50% as mild CAD, 50-70% as moderate CAD, and >70% as severe CAD). Subsequently, the number of involved coronary arteries was also defined. The ABO blood group and Rh status were also identified.

A total of 192 patients undergoing elective CAG were assessed. The patients’ mean age was 59.6 ± 10.7 years, and 113 (58.9%) subjects were male. After categorization into the O and the non-O blood groups, the number of involved coronary arteries and the severity of lumen narrowing were not significantly different between groups. Those values were also comparable between the A, B, AB, and O blood groups. Irrespective of blood group, patients with negative Rh had a higher prevalence of coronary artery narrowing (50-70%) compared to patients with positive Rh (p=0.043).

This study showed no association between the ABO blood group and the severity of CAD among patients undergoing elective CAG. Moreover, negative Rh was associated with the lower degrees of coronary artery narrowing compared to positive Rh.