Key result
Each standard deviation increase in polygenic risk score was associated with a 78% increase in coronary artery calcium score and a higher prevalence of obstructive plaques (OR 1.78, P=5.6e-16).
Why the study?
Polygenic risk scores predict CAD risk, but whether they are associated with specific CAD characteristics remains unknown.
Is a higher polygenic risk score associated with increased coronary plaque burden or specific plaque features in patients with suspected stable CAD?
Observational (n=1,645)
Is a higher polygenic risk score associated with increased coronary plaque burden or specific plaque features in patients with suspected stable CAD?
Polygenic risk scores for CAD are associated with an increased overall burden of coronary atherosclerosis rather than promoting specific high-risk plaque features.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
PRS links to greater plaque burden in stable CAD suspects; leaves open effects on high-risk features and clinical outcomes.
Background Polygenic risk scores ( PRS s) based on risk variants from genome‐wide association studies predict coronary artery disease ( CAD ) risk. However, it is unknown whether the PRS is associated with specific CAD characteristics. Methods and Results We consecutively included 1645 patients with suspected stable CAD undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography. A multilocus PRS was calculated as the weighted sum of CAD risk variants. Plaques were evaluated using an 18‐segment model and characterized by stenosis severity and composition (soft [0%‐19% calcified], mixed‐soft [20%‐49% calcified], mixed‐calcified [50%‐79% calcified], or calcified [≥80% calcified]). Coronary artery calcium score and segment stenosis score were used to characterize plaque burden. For each standard deviation increase in the PRS , coronary artery calcium score increased by 78% ( P =4.1e‐26) and segment stenosis score increased by 16% ( P =2.4e‐29) in the fully adjusted model. The PRS was associated with a higher prevalence of obstructive plaques (odds ratio [ OR ] : 1.78, P =5.6e‐16), calcified ( OR : 1.69, P =6.5e‐17), mixed‐calcified ( OR : 1.67, P =7.3e‐9), mixed‐soft ( OR : 1.45, P =1.6e‐6), and soft plaques ( OR : 1.49, P =2.5e‐6), and a higher prevalence of plaque in each coronary vessel (all P <1.0e‐4). However, when analyzing data on a plaque level (3007 segments with plaque in 849 patients) the PRS was not associated with stenosis severity, plaque composition, or localization (all P >0.05). Conclusions Our results suggest that polygenic risk based on large genome‐wide association studies increases CAD risk through an increased burden of coronary atherosclerosis rather than promoting specific plaque features. Clinical Trial Registration URL : https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT 02264717.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Christiansen et al. (2020) conducted an observational in Suspected stable coronary artery disease (n=1,645). Polygenic risk score (PRS) vs. Per standard deviation increase was evaluated on Prevalence of obstructive plaques (OR 1.78, p=5.6e-16). Each standard deviation increase in polygenic risk score was associated with a 78% increase in coronary artery calcium score and a higher prevalence of obstructive plaques (OR 1.78, P=5.6e-16).
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: