A A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Prevalence of ABO and Rhesus Blood Groups in Pakistani Population

Abstract

Objective: The main aim of this review is to document the ABO and Rh blood group distribution pattern among the population of different regions of Pakistan and the overall population of Pakistan.

Methodology: Major databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, SciHub, Medscape, PakMediNet, Scopus, and Science Direct were searched. MeSH words like Prevalence, ABO, Rh, Blood Groups were used in the search engine databases. After careful review, 65 studies from January 1977 to December 2020, were included, with no gender, or ethnic restrictions.

Results: Our study recorded 160 studies of which 150 were from the database while 10 were identified through other sources (handcomb search). From these 160 studies, 40 were duplicate and were removed. The remaining 120 studies were screened properly and after the screening, additional 21 studies were excluded. Full-text articles of 99 studies were assessed for eligibility of which 34 were excluded for certain reasons. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 65 studies were included in the meta-analysis. According to the present study, the frequency distribution of the ABO blood groups in the Pakistani population was in the pattern B>O>A>AB with blood group B (34%) being the commonest, followed by O (32%), A (24%), and AB (10%). In the Rh blood group system, Rh (D) was the most prevalent antigen present in 91% of the population.

Conclusion: Blood group B is the most prevalent while blood group AB is the least prevalent in the Pakistani population. To establish a more reliable and national database of ABO and Rh blood groups in Pakistan, National Database and Registration Authority can play a pivotal role.