Key result
Higher polygenic risk scores linked to ~52% greater risk of acute post-COVID-19 AF per SD.
Why the study?
Current understanding of determinants for COVID-19-related cardiovascular and thromboembolic complications primarily covers clinical aspects, with limited knowledge on genetics and lifestyles.
Does genetic risk and adherence to a healthy lifestyle affect the risk of acute cardiovascular and thromboembolic complications within 90 days following SARS-CoV-2 infection?
Cohort (n=106,005)
Yes
Does genetic risk and adherence to a healthy lifestyle affect the risk of acute cardiovascular and thromboembolic complications within 90 days following SARS-CoV-2 infection?
Effect estimate: HR 1.52 (95% CI 1.44 to 1.60)
p-value: p=<0.001
Host genetics and pre-infection healthy lifestyle independently influence the risk of acute cardiovascular and thromboembolic complications following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
May support PRS-based risk stratification post-COVID; leaves open causal effects and lifestyle interactions in prospective studies.
Current understanding of determinants for COVID-19-related cardiovascular and thromboembolic (CVE) complications primarily covers clinical aspects with limited knowledge on genetics and lifestyles. Here, we analysed a prospective cohort of 106,005 participants from UK Biobank with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. We show that higher polygenic risk scores, indicating individual's hereditary risk, were linearly associated with increased risks of post-COVID-19 atrial fibrillation (adjusted HR 1.52 [95% CI 1.44 to 1.60] per standard deviation increase), coronary artery disease (1.57 [1.46 to 1.69]), venous thromboembolism (1.33 [1.18 to 1.50]), and ischaemic stroke (1.27 [1.05 to 1.55]). These genetic associations are robust across genders, key clinical subgroups, and during Omicron waves. However, a prior composite healthier lifestyle was consistently associated with a reduction in all outcomes. Our findings highlight that host genetics and lifestyle independently affect the occurrence of CVE complications in the acute infection phrase, which can guide tailored management of COVID-19 patients and inform population lifestyle interventions to offset the elevated cardiovascular burden post-pandemic.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Xie et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=106,005). Higher polygenic risk score (PRS) vs. Lower polygenic risk score was evaluated on Atrial fibrillation within 90 days (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.44 to 1.60, p=<0.001). Higher polygenic risk scores were linearly associated with increased risks of acute post-COVID-19 atrial fibrillation (HR 1.52 per SD increase), coronary artery disease, venous thromboembolism, and ischaemic stroke.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: