Hepatitis C Virus Infection and ABO Blood Group Assessment: Tertiary Hospital Study in India

Area of Science:

• Medical Virology
• Transfusion Medicine
• Immunogenetics

Background:

• Blood transfusion is a critical medical procedure.
• Certain blood groups and Rh factor have been associated with varying susceptibility to infections.
• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant global health concern, particularly in transfusion settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between ABO Blood Group System and Rh type with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection prevalence in Indian blood donors.
• To identify potential risk factors related to blood groups and Rh types for HCV transmission in India.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study design analyzing data from October 2019 to March 2022 in India.
• Blood donors (n=901) were screened for blood-borne infections, including HCV.
• Statistical analysis using logistic regression (SPSS v.16) to determine associations between blood groups, Rh types, and HCV infection.

Main Results:

• Out of 901 donors, 224 had a history of HCV infection.
• HCV-infected individuals included 167 males and 57 females.
• Among HCV-infected individuals, 76 had Rh-negative blood type and 148 had Rh-positive blood type.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests a potential link between specific blood groups/Rh types and increased susceptibility to HCV infection in the Indian population.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering blood group and Rh type in strategies to prevent transfusion-transmitted HCV.
• Further research is recommended to pinpoint blood types conferring higher risk for targeted donor screening and infection control.