Relationship between Blood Pressure, Pulse Rate, Body Weight and Some Human Blood Groups among Stroke Subjects of Ogoni Ethnic Group

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare blood pressure, pulse rate and body weight and some blood group antigens (Lewis and ABO) among individuals of Ogoni ethnic group with stroke. This was a cross-sectional study carried out among indigenes of Ogoni whose first generational parents are natives of Ogoni. A total of 100 participants (49 females and 51 males), within the age of 30 – 60 years were recruited for the study using convenient sampling technique. Participants were recruited from Ogoni. The Ogonis are an ethnic group of people located in an area along the Niger Delta Eastern edge, to the north-east of the Imo River and the city of Port Harcourt. Ogoniland covers about 1036 Sq Km and borders the Bay of Guinea. Bori town was specifically the city for sampling and it is located on latitude: 4 0 40ʹ 34.64ʺ N and longitude: 7 0 21ʹ 54.68ʺ E. Blood Pressure, weight and pulse measurements were done on site. Blood group phenotyping was carried out at the Post Graduate Laboratory of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. All subjects were recruited the same day and their blood samples collected on 2nd October, 2019, and analysis conducted on 3rd October, 2019. Measurement of blood pressure, pulse rate was done using a Sphygmomanometer while body weight was measured using a weighing scale. Determination of Lewis-a blood group was carried out using Anti-Le a monoclonal, prepared by Lorne Laboratories Ltd, UK (Lot No: 63207-A3). Furthermore, determination of Lewis-b blood group was carried out using Anti-Le b monoclonal, prepared by Lorne Laboratories Ltd, UK (Lot No: 63190-A3). Determination of ABO Blood Groups were caried out using Anti-A, Anti-B, Anti-AB IgD/IgM Blend Reagents, Atlas Medicals, Cambridge-UK. Phenotyping of red cells was done using tube method as described by Lorne Laboratories. The systolic blood pressure in stroke group was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than the systolic blood pressures of control participants in control blood group A, B, and O, Also, the systolic blood pressure of stroke group was significantly higher (p = 0.0021) than in Le a control blood group; and also, significantly higher than in Le b control blood group (p = 0.0194). For diastolic blood pressure, there was statistically significant increase in stroke group upon comparison with control groups of blood group B (p = 0.0130). For pulse rate, there was statistically significant increase in stroke group when compared with control groups of blood group Leb (p = 0.0337). Body weight was significantly higher among the stroke group when  compared with control groups who were blood group O, (p = 0.0265). The study has revealed that subjects in the stroke group had systolic and diastolic blood pressure that falls under the classification of high blood pressure, and so they were hypertensive, which is a risk factor for the occurrence of stroke. Individuals in stroke group were also overweight, which is also another risk factor for being hypertensive and in turn a risk factor for stroke. Conclusively, the studied blood groups (A, B, O, Le a , and Le b ) are not associated with increase in blood
pressure, pulse rate and body weight and as such are not risk factors for stroke.