Genetic risk scores, personalized medicine among top genetics news of 2018

Cardiology Today compiled a list of the 10 most-read articles on Healio Cardiology in 2018 related to genetics. Several of the top stories focus on the effects of genetic risk scores on identifying patients with an increased risk for MI, CAD and primary prevention as a whole. Genetics can also play a vital role in a personalized approach to drug selection. Specific genetic variants have been shown to be markers for conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and early-onset atrial fibrillation.

Genetic score identifies young patients at risk for MI

A polygenic risk score that incorporates millions of variants may be able to identify young patients at high risk for MI, according to a keynote presentation at the American Society for Preventive Cardiology Congress on CVD. Read more

Genetic risk score may reshape primary prevention

The time has come for the genetic risk score, which is simple to calculate and inexpensive to acquire, to play a larger role in primary prevention of CAD, an expert said at the European Society of Cardiology Congress. Read more

Genomic risk score predicts CAD better than conventional factors

A genomic risk score was better than conventional risk factors at predicting incident CAD, according to findings. Read more

Personalized approach to antiplatelet drug selection may improve clinical outcomes

Selection of antiplatelet therapy based on genetic information in addition to a patient’s clinical characteristics reduced ischemic and bleeding complications in patients with ACS, researchers reported at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session. Read more

Variant in titin gene linked to early-onset AF

A loss-of-function variant in the titin gene, or TTN, was statistically and significantly associated with early-onset AF, according to a study published in JAMA. Read more

Exercise can decrease genetic risk for CVD

Physical activity and fitness were inversely associated with incident CVD among patients from the general population and those with an elevated genetic risk for CVD, according to a study published in Circulation. Read more

SGLT1 variants tied to lower risk for HF, diabetes, obesity, death

Researchers reported that a combination of SGLT1 variants appears to protect from diet-induced hyperglycemia and confers reductions in 25-year risk for HF, diabetes, obesity and death. Read more

Genomic medicine may have great potential in clinical settings

Genomic medicine can potentially be used to predict a patient’s risk for heart disease and the course it may follow, as well as to determine what medications would be best suited for them, according to an American Heart Association scientific advisory published in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine. Read more

Genetic variant may be effective marker for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

A genetic variant has been linked to hyperdynamic features associated with the early stages of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to findings published in JAMA Cardiology. Read more

Polygenic risk score predicts early-onset CAD

Patients who presented with early-onset CAD have a significant polygenic contribution that may be more common than familial hypercholesterolemia, according to a study published in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine. Read more