Study: Can Genetic Factors Predict CV Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Patients?

Genetic risk scores (GRS) may predict an increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with type 2 diabetes, a new study showed.

The results of the study were presented this past weekend at the American Diabetes Association’s 77th Scientific Sessions.
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For their study, the researchers evaluated data from 5360 type 2 diabetes patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) participating in the ACCORD study, who had follow-up data for a median 4.7 years.

A GRS was calculated for each participant by adding the effect size-weighted number of risk alleles at 40 CVD loci identified in the general population. Logistic regression, which included age, gender, and study treatments as covariates, was used to assess the relationship between GRS and MACE.

The researchers classified participants in 2 clinical risk classes for CVD. Patients in the “very high” risk class either had CVD at baseline or an American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) 10-year MACE risk score higher than 15%. Patients classified into the “moderately high” risk class had an AHA/ACC 10-year MACE risk score of 15% or lower.

Results showed that the GRS ranged between 27 and 62, with each unit increase indicating a 3% additional MACE risk. Patients in the highest GRS tertile had a 55% increase of MACE risk compared with those in the lowest tertile. Adjustment for clinical predictors lessened this effect, which seemed stronger among patients with a “moderately high” MACE risk than in those with a “very high” risk.

“In conclusion, a GRS derived from the general population is associated with increased MACE risk among patients with [type 2 diabetes],” the researchers found. “However, the addition of this information to current clinical predictors determines only a modest improvement in the ability to correctly predict MACEs.”

–Christina Vogt

Reference:

Morieri ML, Gao H, Shah H, et al. Prediction of cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes by means of a genetic risk score derived from the general population. Paper presented at: American Diabetes Association 77th Scientific Sessions; June 9-13, 2017; San Diego, CA. http://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/ - !/4297/presentation/10479.