Can we Observe Ethnic Difference in Basic Blood Tests? Single-institution Data from Cancer Prevention Programme in the Czech Republic

Czech version

Authors: M. Řiháček ¹; D. Valík ^1,2; R. Vyzula ³; L. Zdražilová Dubská ^1,2
Authors‘ workplace: Oddělení laboratorní medicíny, Masarykův onkologický ústav, Brno ¹; RECAMO, Masarykův onkologický ústav, Brno ²; Klinika komplexní onkologické péče, Masarykův onkologický ústav, Brno ³
Published in: Klin Onkol 2017; 30(Supplementum1): 170-173
Category: Article

Overview

Background:
Laboratory tests are standard part of a routine check-up of current medical status and an important tool in diagnostic workup, in planning or evaluation of treatment, and disease monitoring. To reduce misdiagnosis, accurate reference intervals reflecting age, sex, ethnicity and other relevant clinical parameters must be established. We aimed to explore ethnic difference in basic blood parameters relevant for the Czech Republic.

Patients and Methods:
The study was performed analyzing blood tests from 13,126 individuals in cancer prevention program. Individuals were divided into two subgroups – 1. Czech, 2. Vietnamese, and laboratory parameters were compared.

Results:
Statistically significant differences were observed in majority of basic blood tests. These could be explained either by ethnical differences in basic biological parameters (weight, body mass) or dietary habits, such as in case of lower blood cholesterol levels and lower creatinine levels respectively in individuals of Vietnamese origin. Observed differences in erythrocyte-related parameters likely reflect higher incidence of haematogical disorders such as hemoglobinopathies.

Conclusion:
We observed statistically significant difference in basic blood tests between individuals of Czech and Vietnamese origin. Taking into consideration routinely used creatinine-based estimation of glomerular function, the most clinically relevant ethnic-based difference is substantially lower creatinine plasma level in individuals of Vietnamese origin.

Key words:
lab tests – reference range – ethnic specificity

The work was supported by Czech Ministry of Health via DRO 00209805 and by MEYS via NPS I (LO1413).

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers.

Submitted:
13. 3. 2017

Accepted:
26. 3. 2017

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