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Gender differences in genetic risk profiles for cardiovascular disease
Kaisa Silander1, Mervi Alanne, Kati Kristiansson
1Department of Molecular Medicine, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. kaisa.silander@ktl.fi
Plos One
|November 1, 2008
Summary
Genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) differ between men and women. This study identified several gender-specific genetic associations, suggesting women may have more detectable genetic risk loci for CVD.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
- Population Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden and incidence vary significantly between genders.
- Lifestyle factors alone do not fully explain these observed gender disparities in CVD.
- Gender-specific genetic risk factors are likely contributors to CVD incidence differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether genetic risk profiles for coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic stroke, and composite CVD endpoints differ between men and women.
- To identify potential gender-specific genetic variations associated with CVD risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a case-cohort design in two Finnish population cohorts.
- Analyzed common variations in 46 candidate genes for associations with CHD, ischemic stroke, and CVD.
- Performed joint gender analyses and genotype-gender interaction analyses.
Main Results:
- Identified several allelic variants associated with CVD risk in joint analyses.
- Found statistically significant genotype-gender interactions for CHD and CVD risk.
- Observed gender-specific effects, with a notable number of associations identified in women, and some in men.
- Two variants in the selenoprotein S gene conferred ischemic stroke risk specifically in women.
Conclusions:
- Suggests that genetic risk loci for CVD may be more readily detectable in women.
- Highlights potential confounding of male CVD risk by environmental/lifestyle factors.
- Recommends further detailed investigation into gender-specific genetic risk profiles for CVD.
- Emphasizes the need for increased focus on female CVD risk in genome-wide association studies.
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