Exploring the Association Between Mental Disorders and Various Arrhythmias via Mendelian Randomization Methods

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Genetics
• Psychiatric Genetics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Mental disorders like major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are prevalent.
• A potential association between these mental illnesses and cardiac arrhythmias is of significant clinical interest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential causal relationship between major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and arrhythmias.
• To explore bidirectional causal effects between mental disorders and arrhythmias using genetic data.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
• Utilized publicly available Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) summary statistics.
• Employed inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method with MR-Egger and weighted median estimator for sensitivity analyses.

Main Results:

• Genetic predisposition to major depression showed increased risk for atrial fibrillation/flutter (OR=1.214), paroxysmal tachycardia (OR=1.493), and atrioventricular block (OR=1.257).
• Reverse MR indicated a modest causal effect of atrioventricular block on depression risk (OR=1.045).

Conclusions:

• The study supports a causal role of major depression in elevating the risk of specific arrhythmias.
• Evidence suggests potential bidirectional causal effects between depression and atrioventricular block from a genetic liability perspective.