Why the study?
Mechanisms linking systemic inflammation to cardiac remodelling and cardiovascular risk remain incompletely understood, including the role of cytokine-mediated signalling and gene-environment interactions.
Does chronic systemic inflammation (measured by GlycA) associate with adverse cardiac remodelling and increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events?
Population
488,079 UK Biobank participants with metabolomic, proteomic profiling, CMR imaging, and longitudinal outcomes
Comparison
Higher GlycA levels vs lower GlycA levels (lowest quintile)
Design
Population-based cohort study with machine learning and multivariable analyses
Follow-up
Longitudinal outcomes (duration not specified)
Key result
Higher chronic systemic inflammation (highest vs lowest GlycA quintile) was associated with a 43% increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (HR 1.43; 95% CI 1.38-1.49).
Authors
Loading...
Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
“The surprising aspect was the significant link between social factors and mental health with inflammation and heart damage – alongside more established risk factors like smoking and inactivity. There was also a strong genetic component, with some individuals being naturally more resistant or susceptible to the inflammatory damage resulting from different lifestyles.”
“Chronic stress, from many different causes, may trigger long-term inflammation with no initial symptoms. But we can now see how this leads to adverse changes in the heart that precede any symptoms of cardiovascular disease. Social disadvantage is emerging as a key risk factor for heart disease and potentially an important public health intervention.”
“Inflammation is part of the body's healing process, but there is also a darker side to it. This large-scale study found people with higher levels of inflammation experienced silent changes to the structure of their hearts and had a higher risk of major cardiac events including heart attacks and strokes.”
Should not yet change risk stratification or therapy; extends observational links between GlycA, IL-1–mediated remodeling, and MACE.
Cohort (n=488,079)
Does chronic systemic inflammation (measured by GlycA) associate with adverse cardiac remodelling and increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events?
Hazard Ratio: 1.43 (95% CI 1.38–1.49)
Chronic systemic inflammation, driven by environmental and genetic factors, is associated with adverse cardiac remodelling and increased cardiovascular risk, with cytokines like IL-1 acting as potential mediators.
A large UK Biobank study linking chronic inflammation from environmental and genetic factors to adverse cardiac remodeling and increased MACE risk is driving discussion on the social and biological determinants of heart disease.
Corianò et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Cardiovascular risk and cardiac remodelling (n=488,079). Chronic systemic inflammation (GlycA levels) vs. Lowest GlycA quintile was evaluated on Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.38-1.49). Higher chronic systemic inflammation (highest vs lowest GlycA quintile) was associated with a 43% increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (HR 1.43; 95% CI 1.38-1.49).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: