Distribution of ABO and Rh Blood Group Among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis in Libya: A Cross-Sectional Study

The ABO blood group system is one of the most clinically important blood group systems and has been implicated in the susceptibility to various diseases, including cardiovascular and renal disorders. However, the relationship between ABO blood groups and chronic kidney disease remains controversial and has been insufficiently investigated in Libyan populations. This study aimed to determine the distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in western and southern Libya and to evaluate whether specific blood groups are overrepresented in this patient population. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 120 patients with end-stage renal disease receiving maintenance hemodialysis between 2021 and 2025. Participants were recruited from four dialysis centers in Libya, namely Misrata Medical Center, Gharyan Teaching Hospital, Brak General Hospital, and Bouzayan Gharyan Center. The patients' ages ranged from 20 to 80 years. ABO and Rh blood groups were determined using standard hemagglutination techniques. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test, with statistical significance considered at p < 0.05. Of the 120 patients enrolled, 58 (48.33%) were males and 62 (51.67%) were females. Blood group O was the most prevalent blood type, accounting for 45.83% of cases, followed by blood groups A (30.83%), B (19.17%), and AB (4.17%). Similar distribution patterns were observed in both male and female patients. No statistically significant differences in ABO blood group distribution were detected between genders (p > 0.05). Blood group O was the predominant ABO phenotype among hemodialysis patients in western and southern Libya, followed by groups A, B, and AB. The observed distribution pattern appears to reflect the general ABO blood group distribution commonly reported in the region, and no evidence of a significant association between a specific blood group and end-stage renal disease was identified. Further large-scale case-control studies involving healthy controls are recommended to clarify the potential role of ABO blood groups in chronic kidney disease.