A new study has found that people who are in non-O blood group (A, B, and AB) are at risk of heart attack and stroke compared with O blood group.

The research team conducted meta-analysis with a large amount of data from several studies both O and non-O blood groups. In this way, they have more definitive and conclusive answer rather than a standalone paper.

Like Us on Facebook

According to Tessa Kole, the lead author of the study, those who belong to non-O blood group may be at risk for heart attacks and overall cardiovascular mortality. If the result of the study is confirmed, a personalized medicine may be developed.

The study involves a total of 1.3 million participants who had heart failure, coronary artery, heart attacks, ischemic heart disease, and other cardiovascular events. In the overall findings, 23,154 participants were recorded with cardiovascular events and correlate the events to the blood type of the person.

The data revealed that non-O blood groups are at higher risk of the cardiovascular events with at least 9 percent of coronary events, as well as 9 percent of myocardial infarction.

The reason why the risk increased to non-O blood group has not yet fully determined, but the researchers assumed that it is likely due to higher concentrations of a clotting agent called von Willebrand factor among non-O blood groups.

However, type A blood group has a natural proclivity to higher cholesterol which leads the cause to other non-O blood groups and makes it difficult to determine. Further study is required to know the cause of increased cardiovascular risk with non-O blood group.

Kole also noted that they need to obtain additional information regarding the risk of non-O blood group to provide more evidence. In addition, blood group should be assessed for cardiovascular prevention, cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and sex.