[Can we Observe Ethnic Difference in Basic Blood Tests? Single-institution Data from Cancer Prevention Programme in...

Area of Science:

• Clinical chemistry and hematology
• Population health studies
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Laboratory tests are crucial for medical diagnosis, treatment planning, and disease monitoring.
• Accurate reference intervals are essential to prevent misdiagnosis and must account for demographic factors.
• Ethnic variations in biological parameters can influence standard laboratory test results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ethnic differences in fundamental blood parameters within the Czech Republic.
• To establish ethnic-specific reference ranges for common laboratory tests.
• To identify clinically significant ethnic variations in blood analytes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of blood test data from 13,126 individuals participating in a cancer prevention program.
• Comparison of laboratory parameters between two distinct ethnic subgroups: Czech and Vietnamese.
• Statistical analysis to identify significant differences in blood test results.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant differences were found in the majority of basic blood tests between Czech and Vietnamese individuals.
• Lower blood cholesterol and creatinine levels were observed in the Vietnamese group, potentially linked to diet and body composition.
• Differences in erythrocyte parameters suggest a higher prevalence of hematological disorders like hemoglobinopathies in one group.

Conclusions:

• Significant ethnic variations exist in basic blood test results between Czech and Vietnamese populations.
• Lower plasma creatinine levels in individuals of Vietnamese origin represent a clinically relevant ethnic-specific difference.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering ethnicity when interpreting laboratory results, particularly for kidney function estimates.