Related Experiment Videos

Concordance of genetic determinants of acute coronary artery disease between European and Chinese populations

Ahmed Edris1, Kuang Lin1, Sofia Massa1

  • 1Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX37LF, UK.

Gigascience
|August 11, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Genetic associations for coronary artery disease (CAD) in Europeans show moderate concordance in Chinese populations. These genetic determinants for CAD are specific and show weak links to other cardiovascular diseases like stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology
  • Population Health

Background:

  • Genetic associations for acute coronary artery disease (CAD) discovered in European populations may not fully translate to other ethnicities.
  • Understanding genetic concordance is crucial for global cardiovascular disease prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the concordance of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations for acute CAD identified in Europeans with acute CAD, chronic ischaemic heart disease (IHD), or stroke in Chinese adults.
  • To assess the transferability of European-derived CAD genetic risk scores to a Chinese cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A nested case-control study within the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) analyzed 224 SNPs associated with acute CAD in Europeans.
  • Associations were compared between European-derived SNPs and acute CAD in Chinese individuals.
  • A genetic score (GS-CAD) was developed and its associations with chronic IHD, heart failure, stroke, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and plasma proteomics were evaluated in the CKB cohort.

Main Results:

  • A moderate correlation (r=0.53) was observed between European-derived CAD SNP associations and acute CAD in Chinese individuals, with only 25 SNPs showing significant replication.
  • The GS-CAD demonstrated stronger associations with acute CAD compared to chronic IHD, heart failure, or stroke.
  • Higher GS-CAD levels were significantly associated with LDL-cholesterol and moderately with systolic blood pressure, but showed weak associations with body mass index and no association with proteomics.

Conclusions:

  • There is moderate concordance of genetic determinants for acute CAD between European and Chinese populations.
  • These genetic associations appear specific to CAD and exhibit only weak links to chronic IHD, heart failure, or ischaemic stroke.
  • Findings suggest potential for targeted genetic risk assessment in diverse populations, with caveats regarding specificity.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chinese and European populationsacute coronary artery diseasegenetic determinantsother vascular diseasesstroke

Related Concept Videos

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS01:11

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs01:05

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs

A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
Human Genetics01:28

Human Genetics

Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets01:29

Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets

Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...