Associations Between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on Chromosome 9p21 and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Chinese Han Population

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 9p21 were associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) in a Chinese Han population. METHODS AND RESULTS: We determined the genotypes of rs2383206 and rs2383207 on chromosome 9p21 in 1360 CHD patients and 1360 age- and sex-frequency-matched controls from an unrelated Chinese Han population. GG genotypes in rs2383207 occurred more frequently in CHD patients compared to controls, and the odds ratio (OR) was 1.52 (95% CI 1.13 to 2.04), after adjusting for conventional risk factors. In stratified analysis, the risk associated with the GG genotype of the two SNPs was stronger in subjects who were males, less than 60 years old, overweight, and smokers. The SNP rs2383207 had significant interactions with gender and smoking (P=0.018 and 0.037, respectively). The risk allele G of rs2383207 plus family history of CHD had a cumulative association with CHD (P for trend, 1.0x10(-6)); the OR for CHD was 4.59 (95% CI 2.52 to 8.37) for those with all the risk factors as compared with subjects without any of the factors. CONCLUSIONS: The SNP rs2383207 on chromosome 9p21 is significantly associated with CHD in Chinese. This SNP combined with family history has a cumulative association with CHD.