Distribution of ABO/Rhesus Blood Groups and Haemoglobin Genotypes in Relation to Fasting Blood Glucose Levels Among Pregnant Women in Owerri

Background: This study examined the relationship between ABO, Rhesus D blood groups and haemoglobin phenotypes with fasting capillary blood glucose level in pregnant women in Owerri, Nigeria.

Method: The method used was the analytical cross sectional study with 84 pregnant women as subjects. Capillary glucose level was determined by a glucose meter, ABO blood group and Rhesus D typing by agglutination and haemoglobin phenotypes by electrophoresis. Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance at p < 0.05 were used to analyse the data.

Method: The method used was the analytical cross sectional study with 84 pregnant women as subjects. Capillary glucose level was determined by a glucose meter, ABO blood group and Rhesus D typing by agglutination and haemoglobin phenotypes by electrophoresis. Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance at p < 0.05 were used to analyse the data.

Results: The age group 25-29 years old comprised most participants (32.1%) and 48.8% were in their third trimester. 13.1% reported having a previous history of gestational diabetes and 34.5% had a family history of diabetes. HbAA predominated (71.4%), followed by HbAS (26.2%) and HbAC (2.4%). The most common blood group was O positive (61.9%) and 95.2% were Rhesus D positive. Mean fasting glucose was 172.20 ± 23.60 mg/dL, with a median of 165.50 mg/dL and range of 140–248 mg/dL. The level of all participants was ≥126 mg/dL. There was no significant difference between ABO/Rhesus D groups (F = 1.132, p = 0.348) or haemoglobin phenotypes (F = 1.786, p = 0.174) with regard to the fasting glucose.

Conclusion: The predominant ones were HbAA, O positive and Rhesus D positive. There was no significant association between ABO/Rhesus D blood group and haemoglobin phenotype with fasting capillary glucose. The consistently high results should be confirmed by standard laboratory methods.