New research bolsters the suggestion that blood type is associated with varying levels of risk of developing coronary heart disease. But experts say the association’s potential clinical implications are not a concern.
The research found that, when compared with individuals with type O, those with type A blood have a 6% greater risk of heart disease, those with type B have a 15% greater risk, and those with type AB have a 23% greater risk. In the United States, about 44% of individuals have type O blood, 42% type A, 10% type B, and 4% type AB. The association was not changed by other known heart disease risk factors, including age, sex, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, or having diabetes mellitus.