Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Hypertension

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Cardiovascular Science
• Genomics

Background:

• Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality.
• The gut microbiota is increasingly recognized for its role in cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare gut microbiota composition and richness in healthy controls, patients with high blood pressure (HBP), and patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
• To explore the potential of microbiota as a biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of gut microbiota from 300 healthy controls, 300 HBP patients, and 300 CHD patients.
• Statistical comparison of microbiota diversity and richness.
• Random forest modeling for predictive analysis.
• Microbiota functional prediction analysis.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in gut microbiota diversity were observed across the three groups.
• Significant differences in microbiota richness were found among the groups (P < 0.05).
• Distinct dominant bacterial taxa were identified in each group: Bacteroidetes/Bacteroidia (CHD), Enterobacteriales/Escherichia-shigella (HBP), and Acidaminococcaceae/Phascolarctobacterium (healthy controls).
• Random forest models showed high sensitivity for CHD prediction based on microbiota features.
• Functional predictions indicated differences in oxygen supply and chronic inflammation between diseased and healthy populations.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiota richness, not diversity, differs significantly between healthy individuals, HBP patients, and CHD patients.
• Microbiota profiling holds promise as a novel clinical indicator for predicting and monitoring cardiovascular event risk.
• Functional analysis suggests altered oxygen supply and chronic inflammation pathways in HBP/CHD patients compared to healthy controls.