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SNPs implicated in increased risk for first CHD event
Ripatti S. Lancet. 2010;376:1393-1400.
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A genetic risk score based on single nucleotide polymorphisms was able to identify those with European ancestry who were at a nearly 70% increased risk for a first coronary heart disease event, findings published in The Lancet indicated.
The prospective cohort analysis tested the relationship between 13 recently discovered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and CHD in a case-control design. Researchers defined CHD as MI, unstable angina pectoris, coronary revascularization or CHD-related death, whereas CVD included CHD and ischemic stroke events.
The study group for the case-control design included 52,726 participants who either had prevalent cases of CHD (n=3,829) or who were free of the disease (n=48,897). For the prospective cohort design, 30,725 participants from five Finnish and Swedish cohorts were included.
At a follow-up of a median of 10.7 years, 1,264 (4.1%) participants had a first CHD event. After adjusting for age, sex and traditional risk factors, there was a strong association between genetic risk score and incident CHD, CVD and MI. Compared with participants in the bottom quintile of genetic risk score, those in the top quintile were 1.66 times more likely to develop CHD (95% CI, 1.35-2.04). This estimate did not change, even after researchers adjusted for family history.
“Using a genetic risk score based on 13 SNPs associated with [CHD], we can identify the 20% of individuals of European ancestry who are at roughly 70% increased risk of a first [CHD] event,” the researchers concluded. “Whether this genetic risk score will have clinical usefulness remains to be defined in future studies.”