Association between Rhesus Blood Groups and Malaria Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

In the literature, there was inconsistency in the risk of malaria between individuals with Rhesus blood group positive (Rh+) and negative (Rh−). The systematic review aimed to investigate the risk of malaria among participants with different Rh blood types. All observational studies that reported the occurrence of Plasmodium infection and investigation of the Rh blood group were searched in five databases (Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Ovid). Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology was used to assess the reporting quality in the included studies. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled log odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Database searches yielded a total of 879 articles, of which 36 were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. The majority of the included studies (44.4%) revealed that Rh+ individuals had a lower proportion of malaria than Rh− individuals; however, the remaining studies revealed a higher or no difference in the proportion of malaria between Rh+ and Rh− individuals. Overall, with moderate heterogeneity, the pooled results showed no difference in malaria risk between patients with Rh+ and Rh− (p = 0.85, pooled log odds-ratio: 0.02, 95% CI: −0.20–0.25, I2: 65.1%, 32 studies). The current study found no link between the Rh blood group and malaria, even though there was a moderate amount of heterogeneity. Further studies using prospective designs and a definitive method for Plasmodium identification are needed to investigate the risk of Plasmodium infection in Rh+ individuals and increase the reliability and quality of these studies.

Haemoglobin Variants, ABO/Rh Blood Groups and their Associa-tions with Levels of Malaria Parasitaemia amongst Infected Subjects at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

“…For Rh D factor, its presence (Rh D+) indicated a high infection rate as seen from the study. However, considering the number of Rh D-subjects (3 subjects), the comparison is not robust enough to draw a statistical conclusion; this is in agreement with a research carried out by Rattanapan et al (23) where they reported no link between the Rh D blood group and malaria. Based on gender, the females may likely be infected with 3+ falciparum malaria than males, but considering the confidence interval and p-value which is >1 and >0.05 respectively, gender may not be considered as a risk factor for malaria in the studied population.…”

Hematological Abnormalities Among Malaria Infected Adult Patients in Association with ABO Blood Groups at Jinella Health Center, Harar, Eastern Ethiopia

“…However, the Rh-blood group changes the parasites' adhesion properties to the RBC membrane and sequesters itself in less suitable areas for malaria infection. 45 In this study, the overall anemia prevalence was 47.2%. Blood group A malaria-infected patients were 2.75 times more likely to develop anemia than blood group O patients.…”

“…However, the Rh-blood group changes the parasites’ adhesion properties to the RBC membrane and sequesters itself in less suitable areas for malaria infection. 45 …”

Association of ABO, Rh-D and Kell blood groups with transfusion transmitted infections among blood donors from the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia

“…Researchers have reported a high incidence of malaria in individuals with blood types A, B, and AB, compared to those with blood type O. 28 …”