Evaluating the link between ABO blood groups and hearing impairment among South Indian individuals

Authors

  • Jaya Sankar Rao Unit for Human Genetics, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore Author
  • Vidya Gowda Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore Author
  • Abhilash Hebbal Rajendra Unit for Human Genetics, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore Author
  • Rabiya Fathima Unit for Human Genetics, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore Author
  • Charles Sylvester Unit for Human Genetics, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5530/ajphs.2026.16.85

Keywords:

Blood group, Non-syndromic hearing loss, Pure tone audiometry

Abstract

Background: Blood group antigens are genetically inherited and play a vital role in transfusion safety, genetic studies, and disease susceptibility. Hearing is a vital special sense essential for communication, and several studies suggest a potential association between blood group types and susceptibility to hearing loss. Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation between ABO blood group distribution and the occurrence of non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) among hearing-impaired individuals in South India. Methods: Ninety-four patients diagnosed with NSHL were included after obtaining informed consent. ABO blood grouping was performed by agglutination, and pure-tone audiometry (PTA) was conducted. Results: The predominant blood group was O+ve, followed by A+ve, B+ve, and AB+ve. PTA findings showed that O+ve was more frequent in mild to moderately severe hearing loss categories, while A+ve was more common among moderate cases. Conclusion: The findings collectively indicate that individuals with blood group O may have a greater predisposition to auditory dysfunctions, including sensorineural hearing loss. This association, supported by multiple studies, suggests potential underlying biological mechanisms linking blood group O to increased vulnerability of cochlear or neural auditory pathways.

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Published

2026-03-31

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Evaluating the link between ABO blood groups and hearing impairment among South Indian individuals. (2026). Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, 16(1), 3196-3200. https://doi.org/10.5530/ajphs.2026.16.85