The relationship between emotional disorders and heart rate variability: A Mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Psychiatric Genetics
• Statistical Genetics

Background:

• Emotional disorders are linked to reduced heart rate variability (HRV).
• The causal relationship between genetic factors for emotional disorders and HRV is not well understood.
• Mendelian randomization (MR) offers a method to investigate potential causal links using genetic variants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential causal association between genetic susceptibility to emotional disorders and heart rate variability (HRV).
• To leverage Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess genetic influences on the relationship between emotional states and cardiac autonomic function.

Main Methods:

• Utilized publicly available genome-wide association study datasets.
• Employed five Mendelian randomization models (IVW, WME, WM, SM, MER).
• Conducted sensitivity analyses including leave-one-out, MR-PRESSO, and Cochran's Q test to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

Main Results:

• Genetic susceptibility to broad depression showed a negative correlation with HRV (pvRSA/HF).
• Genetic susceptibility to irritability was positively correlated with HRV (pvRSA/HF, SDNN).
• Genetic susceptibility to anxiety was positively correlated with HRV (RMSSD).

Conclusions:

• This MR study provides genetic evidence supporting causal effects of broad depression on HRV.
• Findings indicate a genetically influenced causal link between irritable mood and HRV.
• Genetic susceptibility to anxiety demonstrates a causal effect on HRV.