Experts at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (USA) have discovered a correlation between blood type and the risk of early stroke.
Blood type A has an 18% higher risk of early stroke compared to individuals with other blood types. (Illustrative photo: scitechdaily).
According to Sputnik (Russia), the meta-analysis included data from 48 genetic studies on ischemic stroke in individuals under 60 years old. In total, these studies analyzed results from 17,000 stroke patients and nearly 600,000 healthy individuals. Researchers found a link between early stroke and a chromosome region containing the genes determining blood type (A, B, AB, or O).
Professor Braxton D. Mitchell at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a co-author of the study, stated: “Our meta-analysis examined the genetic profiles of patients and found a connection between blood type and the risk of early-onset stroke.” He added that the correlation between blood type and stroke risk in older adults is significantly less than what they found for younger individuals.
Specifically, after considering gender and other factors, researchers found that patients with blood type A have an 18% higher risk of early stroke compared to those with other blood types. Conversely, individuals with blood type O have a 12% lower risk.
However, researchers emphasized that the risk of progression is very low, so individuals with blood type A do not need to worry about early stroke or undergo additional screening.
Scientists believe that the increased risk of stroke may be related to coagulation factors. Previous studies have also indicated that people with blood type A have a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis.
The study was based on data from 9,300 individuals over 60 years old who had experienced a heart attack and 25,000 individuals over 60 who had never had a heart attack. Additionally, researchers compared data from those who suffered a heart attack before age 60 with those who experienced one after that age.
Statistics show that myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, causes the deaths of over 4 million people in Europe and North Asia each year, accounting for about one-third of total deaths in developed countries. This new research will pave the way for advancements in disease diagnosis.
