Key result
Blood group O shows no difference in vascular stiffness vs non-O groups despite lower vWF.
Why the study?
ABO blood groups influence cardiovascular and thrombotic risk in the elderly, with blood group O showing a more favorable profile. Whether these blood group differences affect physiological markers of vascular structure or subclinical metabolic traits in early adulthood remained poorly studied.
Do ABO blood groups influence physiological biomarkers of vascular structure and function (PWV, AIx, cIMT) and cardiometabolic traits in young, healthy adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=818)
No
Do ABO blood groups influence physiological biomarkers of vascular structure and function (PWV, AIx, cIMT) and cardiometabolic traits in young, healthy adults?
In young, healthy adults aged 18–26 years, ABO blood groups are not associated with structural or functional vascular changes (PWV, AIx, cIMT), but non-O blood group carriers already exhibit higher von Willebrand factor and fasting plasma glucose levels, suggesting that ABO-related cardiometabolic and thrombotic risk differences emerge early in adulthood prior to detectable macrovascular alterations.
Does not support using ABO blood group to assess early vascular aging in young adults; leaves open when and how non-O groups develop elevated cardiovascular risk.
Background In the elderly, ABO blood groups influence the risk of cardiovascular and thrombotic events, with blood group O consistently showing a more favorable risk profile. However, whether these differences affect physiological markers of vascular structure or subclinical metabolic traits in early adulthood remains poorly studied. Methods In this cross-sectional study, cardiovascular disease-related biomarkers in serum, measures of vascular structure and function, pulse-wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and ABO blood groups were assessed in a sample of young, healthy subjects aged 18–26 years. Results No statistically significant differences in PWV, AIx, or cIMT were identified across the different ABO blood groups. Conversely, the serum biomarkers showed distinct profiles. Individuals with blood group O presented with lower plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor (vWF) compared to all non-O carriers (0.84 kIE/L vs. non-O, 1.09 kIE/L, p < 0.05). Furthermore, blood group O carriers demonstrated significantly lower fasting plasma glucose levels (4.96 mmol/L vs. 5.02 mmol/L, p = 0.02) and a trend toward lower fasting serum insulin levels ( p = 0.07). Conclusion ABO blood groups were not associated with measures of vascular structure and function in young, healthy adults. Non-O blood groups were associated with higher vWF levels and altered glucose metabolism, suggesting that circulating cardiometabolic risk markers vary by blood group early in life.
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Stefansson et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Subclinical vascular structure and function in healthy young adults (n=818). ABO blood group O vs. Non-O blood groups (A, B, AB) was evaluated on Pulse wave velocity (PWV, m/s) as a primary measure of vascular structure and function (alongside AIx and cIMT) (p=0.87). ABO blood group O showed no difference in pulse wave velocity (5.33 vs 5.32 m/s, p=0.87), AIx, or cIMT vs non-O groups in young adults, but had lower vWF (0.84 vs 1.09 kIE/L, p<0.001).
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