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Association between body mass index and electrocardiogram indices: A Mendelian randomization study
Jinfeng Yang1, YiZhao Chen2, Wei Li2
1Department of Electrophysiology, Guigang City People's Hospital, Guigang, Guangxi, China.
Insights
Higher body mass index (BMI) causally increases P wave duration, a risk factor for atrial arrhythmias. This Mendelian randomization study clarifies a link between obesity and cardiovascular disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular genetics
- Obesity research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major global health issue.
- Obesity, measured by body mass index (BMI), is linked to increased CVD risk, but causal pathways are unclear.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) indices may reveal mechanisms linking BMI to CVD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal association between BMI and ECG indices using Mendelian randomization (MR).
- To explore potential mechanisms linking obesity to cardiovascular disease risk.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive MR study using large-scale genetic and ECG data.
- Instrumental variables for BMI were selected from genome-wide association studies.
- Causal relationships between BMI and P wave duration, PR interval, QRS duration, and QT interval were assessed using MR methods, primarily inverse variance weighted (IVW).
Main Results:
- A significant positive causal association was found between higher BMI and prolonged P wave duration (β = 8.078, p < 0.001).
- No significant causal associations were observed between BMI and PR interval, QRS duration, or QT interval (all p > 0.005).
- The study found no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy, supporting the robustness of the findings.
Conclusions:
- Elevated BMI is causally associated with prolonged P wave duration.
- Prolonged P wave duration is a marker of increased atrial arrhythmogenic risk.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms linking BMI to atrial arrhythmogenesis.
Introduction:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a global health concern, and body mass index (BMI) is known to be associated with an increased risk of CVD, but the exact mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. This study employs Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal association between BMI and electrocardiogram (ECG) indices, providing insights into potential pathways linking obesity to CVD.
Methods:
We conducted a comprehensive MR study utilizing large-scale genetic and ECG data from diverse populations. Instrumental variables were selected from genome-wide association studies, ensuring their relevance to BMI. Causal relationships between BMI and ECG indices, including P wave duration, PR interval, QRS duration, and QT interval, were assessed using various MR methods, with inverse variance weighted (IVW) considered as the primary analysis.
Results:
Our MR analysis revealed a significant positive causal association between higher BMI and P wave duration (β = 8.078, 95% CI: 5.322 to 10.833, p < 0.001), suggesting a potential mechanism through which higher BMI may contribute to arrhythmogenic risks. However, no significant causal associations were observed between BMI and PR interval, QRS duration, or QT interval (all p > 0.005). In addition, our study also found that there is no horizontal pleiotropy between BMI and P wave duration, PR interval, QRS duration, and QT interval, suggesting that the conclusions of this study are robust.
Conclusion:
This study supports a causal relationship between elevated BMI and prolonged P wave duration, a marker of increased atrial arrhythmogenic risk. Further investigations are still needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
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