ABO blood group as a risk factor for tuberculosis: A network meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Genetics

Background:

• The association between ABO blood groups and tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility remains inconclusive despite extensive research.
• Understanding genetic predispositions can aid in TB prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze existing evidence on the relationship between ABO blood groups and tuberculosis risk.
• To quantify the risk of TB associated with different ABO blood types.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines.
• Inclusion of English-language studies reporting odds ratios for TB risk across ABO blood groups.
• Utilized random-model network and pairwise meta-analyses to assess TB risk.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 28 studies (30 populations, 15,664 TB cases, 254,610 controls) revealed increased TB risk for non-O blood types.
• Blood group AB showed a higher risk (OR=1.26) compared to O, A, and B.
• Subgroup analyses indicated a substantial TB risk for blood group AB in Africa (OR=1.78) and India (OR=1.48).

Conclusions:

• The AB blood group is identified as a significant risk factor for tuberculosis.
• The magnitude of this risk is particularly substantial in African and Indian populations.
• These findings underscore the importance of considering blood group in TB risk assessment and targeted interventions.