This Blood Group Is A Higher Risk Of Having An Early Stroke

Illustration of men entering the hospital (Photo: Freepik/Freepik)

JAKARTA - Stroke is one of the main causes of disability and death in the world. Although it generally occurs in the elderly, early stroke cases that occur before the age of 60 are apparently increasing. A recent study reveals that the risk of stroke is not only influenced by lifestyle and health factors, but also by a person's blood type.

Research from the University of Maryland (UMD) found that people with blood type A are more susceptible to early ischemic stroke, the type of stroke caused by blockage of blood flow to the brain. Meanwhile, people with blood type O have a lower risk.

"The number of cases of early stroke is increasing. People who experience early stroke are more at risk of dying from these life-threatening conditions, and for those who survive, they have the potential to face decades of defects. However, research on the cause of early stroke is still very limited," said Dr. Steven J. Kittner, lead researcher in this study as well as neuroscientist at the UMD Medical Center, quoted from the New York Post page.

In the 2022 analysis, Kittner and his team analyzed data from 48 genetic studies involving 17,000 stroke patients and nearly 600,000 healthy people aged 18 to 59 years. They found a connection between early stroke and the chromodynamic part that determines a person's blood type (A, AB, B, or O).

"The relationship between blood type and stroke that occurs in the elderly is much weaker than that of an early stroke," explains Dr. Braxton D. Mitchell, professor of medicine at UMD.

After considering gender factors and others, research shows that people with blood type O, the most common blood type, have a 12% lower risk of stroke than other blood types. On the other hand, people with blood type A have a 16% higher risk of early stroke.

Even so, the researchers emphasized that people with blood type A do not need to panic or undergo unnecessary medical tests.

"We don't know for sure why blood type A has a higher risk, but it is most likely related to blood clotting factors such as platelets, cells that coat blood vessels, and other proteins that play a role in blood clot formation," Kittner explained.

Blood pressure is the main cause of ischemic stroke because it can inhibit blood flow to the brain. Some previous studies also showed that people with blood type A are more susceptible to deep vein thrombosis, namely blood clots in the legs.

However, this study has limitations, one of which is the lack of diversity of research participants.

Although strokes are more common in people aged 65 years and over, cases of stroke in young people are increasing worldwide. In the United States, the incidence of ischemic stroke in people aged 20 to 44 years rose from 17 per 100,000 people in 1993 to 28 per 100,000 in 2015. The risk of death from stroke in young people also increased.

For survivors, the impact of stroke can be very severe. This causes cognitive disorders, visual problems, coordination disorders, weaknesses, and paralysis. Mentally, many stroke survivors also experience depression and anxiety.

The main risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Unhealthy lifestyles, such as obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise can also increase risks.

"This research raises important questions about how our genetically determined blood type could play a role in the risk of early stroke," said Dr. Mark T. Gladwin of UMD Baltimore.

"These findings suggest the need to find new ways to prevent stroke in young adults." he added.