ABO blood type analysis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Tobacco smoking is major risk factor for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which appears in 15-20% of smokers. Apart from smoking, exposure to polluted air and various noxae, and several genetic factors influence its development as well. The ABO blood type distribution varies among populations in the world, but also within subpopulations. A large number of studies have shown a correlation between blood types and the pathology of various diseases. These markers, used in population genetic research, have mainly shown deviations in the representation of blood groups in different diseases, compared to the general population. The aim of this study was to determine the ABO blood types distribution in patients with COPD compared to the general population, and their possible association with COPD stage, patients? nutritional status and lung function impairment. This observational, prospective study included 150 patients (68.7% men and 31.3% women), average age 64.80 ? 8.38 years, diagnosed with COPD. Data were collected at the Clinical Center of Montenegro in Podgorica and at the Special Hospital for Lung Diseases Brezovik in Niksic. Determination of blood types of the ABO system and Rh factors for all subjects was performed at the Blood Transfusion Center in Podgorica. Apart from patients? tobacco smoking status (duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked per day expressed in pack/years for current smokers and former smokers), we also analyzed their exposure to various other noxae, their body mass index, and lung function in correlation to ABO blood type and Rh factor, and performed statistical analysis. We found a significant difference in the distribution of ABO blood types in patients with COPD compared to the general population. The highest frequency of blood type A was found in patients with COPD. We also found the lowest average values of spirometry parameters in that group, which represented majority of those patients with respiratory insufficiency having the most severe stage of the disease. Combined blood types A, B and were significantly more common in patients with COPD in comparison to blood type O, which is the least represented (23.3%). The least obstructive disturbance of pulmonary ventilation was found in the patients with B type. Respiratory insufficiency showed differences in gender representation, found in 40.4% of women, and in 25.2% of men with terminal phase of COPD. The prevalence of AB, higher than expected, decreases with the severity of the disease.