Is there an association between oral submucous fibrosis and ABO blood grouping?

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is one of the most common premalignant conditions in Indian subcontinent due to the traditional use of Areca nut and its various preparations. The genetic predisposition has also been reported in its etiopathogenesis. The rate of malignant transformation is between 7% to 14%. Aim: To evaluate whether ABO blood group is related to OSMF risk. Subjects and Methods: It was a cross-sectional hospital-based study. A convenient sample of 164 study subjects constituted the cases and 180 subjects constituted the comparison group. Statistical Analysis Used: The results were analyzed using chi-square test and odds ratio. Results: The chi-square analysis could not establish any significant relationship between OSMF and ABO blood group. But, when the strength of the association was measured using odds ratio, subjects with blood group A had 1.181 times higher risk of developing OSMF in comparison to other groups. Conclusion: The subjects with blood group A were at higher risk of developing OSMF in comparison to others. By performing blood group determination using a routine method at outreach programs, the susceptible individuals can be identified and counselled to quit the habit, thereby avoiding potential complications.