Association between allergic rhinitis and hypertension risk: A bidirectional 2-sample mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Epidemiology
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Previous studies suggest a link between allergic rhinitis (AR) and hypertension.
• The underlying genetic basis and causal relationship remain unclear.
• Understanding this association is crucial for public health and personalized medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic correlation between AR and hypertension.
• To explore a potential causal association between AR and hypertension using Mendelian randomization (MR).
• To assess the possibility of reverse causality from hypertension to AR.

Main Methods:

• Utilized large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for AR and hypertension.
• Employed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis with 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables.
• Conducted sensitivity analyses including MR-Egger regression and heterogeneity testing.

Main Results:

• Identified a significant causal association between AR and hypertension (OR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.98, P=0.008) using the IVW method.
• Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings, ruling out significant horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity.
• Reverse MR analysis found no evidence of reverse causality from hypertension to AR.

Conclusions:

• Allergic rhinitis has a causal effect in reducing the risk of hypertension.
• This suggests a potential protective role of AR against hypertension development.
• Findings are based on individuals of European ancestry and warrant further investigation in diverse populations.