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Published on: July 6, 2013
Cytomegalovirus infection and atherosclerosis risk: A meta-analysis
Yang-Jie Jia1, Jun Liu1, Fei-Fei Han1
1Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
Insights
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is linked to a higher risk of atherosclerosis (AS). This meta-analysis confirms a significant association between HCMV and increased AS risk, particularly in Asian populations.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common virus with potential links to cardiovascular diseases.
- Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
- Previous studies suggest an association between HCMV infection and AS, but consensus is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between HCMV infection and atherosclerosis.
- To quantify the risk of AS associated with HCMV infection using available literature.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and CNKI databases.
- Data from 30 studies, including 3328 cases and 2090 controls, were extracted and analyzed.
- Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for various HCMV detection methods.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of HCMV IgG, IgM, DNA, and pp65 was higher in AS patients compared to controls.
- Odds ratios indicated a significant association between HCMV infection and AS, with notable findings in Asian populations (e.g., OR for IgM: 8.92).
- Meta-analysis confirmed a statistically significant connection between HCMV infection and an elevated risk for atherosclerosis.
Conclusions:
- HCMV infection is significantly associated with an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis.
- The findings support HCMV as a contributing factor or marker in the pathogenesis of AS.
- Further research may elucidate the precise mechanisms linking HCMV to AS development.
Abstract:
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS). Numerous studies have been conducted to analyze the association between HCMV infection and risk of AS, but no clear consensus has been reached. So the objective of this paper was aimed to demonstrate the relationship between HCMV and AS by doing a meta-analysis. Relative literature was searched through the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, and CNKI. Data were accurately assessed and analyzed independently by two investigators. Ultimately, the 30 studies, involving 3328 cases and 2090 controls were included in our meta-analysis. The positive ratio of HCMV IgG, IgM, DNA and pp65 were, respectively, 63.26% (923/1459), 25.46% (69/271), 33.69% (381/1131), and 50.32% (158/314) in case patients. Meanwhile the positive ratio of HCMV IgG, IgM, DNA, and pp65 were, respectively, 52.12% (541/1038), 1.55% (3/194), 13.72% (79/576), and 12.26% (28/229) in control subjects. The positive ratio of HCMV infection was higher in atherosclerosis group than that in non-atherosclerosis group. Especially in Asian group, calculated odds ratios for the presence of HCMV infection in IgG-based HCMV tests, IgM-based tests, PCR-based tests, and pp65-based tests, expressed as OR (95% confidence intervals, 95%CI), were 3.07(95%CI 2.09-4.51), 8.92(95%CI 3.17-25.11), 6.75 (95%CI 3.50-13.02), and 5.72(95%CI 1.51-21.58), respectively. The meta-analysis results showed that HCMV infection is significant connected with an increased risk for AS.
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