Genetic risk score predicts the likelihood of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes

A genetic map-based risk score predicted the potential for heart problems and high blood pressure leading to stroke in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published today in the American Heart Association’s Peer Review Journal. High blood pressure..This tool may be especially helpful in guiding the treatment of new people Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes Or for people with pre-diabetes.

Previous studies have found that adults with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as people without type 2 diabetes. Various health measurements such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar are commonly used to determine the risk of a person developing heart disease. In this study, researchers investigated whether genetic variation associated with hypertension was also associated with late-stage heart disease or stroke in people with type 2 diabetes, and used that information to determine risk scores. ..

With an increased genetic risk of high blood pressure, some people with type 2 diabetes may be at increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death. Determine if this genetic risk score can identify people with type 2 diabetes who are at increased risk of cardiovascular events, and whether strict blood glucose control influences the association between genetic hypertension risk and cardiovascular outcomes. Conducted research to do. “

Pankaj Arora, MD, Principal Research Author, Director of Cardiac Genomics Clinic Program and Clinical and Translational Research Program in Cardiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Arora et al. Evaluated the health records of 6,335 participants in the Behavior (ACCORD) study database for controlling cardiovascular risk in diabetes for which genetic data are available. The study group consisted of 37% of women, and participants self-identified their race or ethnicity. 15% were African-American and 6% were Hispanic. 70% was white. And 9% chose the “Other” category. All participants suffered from type 2 diabetes and hypertension and were followed up for 3.5 years.

A genetic variation map of over 1,000 common genetic variants known to affect blood pressure was compared to the DNA of study participants to determine their genetic risk. The more agreement between a participant’s DNA and a map of known blood pressure genetic variation, the higher the genetic risk score.

Researchers have found that the genetic risk score identified study participants at high risk for cardiovascular events:

• For people with a higher than average genetic risk score, the higher the degree, the 12% higher risk of heart disease or stroke events.
• Even if participants were taking medications to control their blood glucose levels, the association between genetic risk and cardiovascular events was the same.

To make these findings more widely applicable, the genetic risk scores of people without type 2 diabetes need to be further evaluated.

Arora et al. Also found that intensive glycemic control (insulin, medication, diet, aggressive treatment with exercise) was a long-standing type 2 diabetes study of differences in individual genetic risk scores for hypertension.

“But the genetic risk score is for people who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and need more radical lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise changes, weight, blood pressure, and more active control of smoking cessation. May help identify. ” Arora.

“If you have type 2 diabetes, there’s a lot you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease,” said Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MD, MPH, FAHA, and FAAFP, Chief Medical Officer for Prevention at the American Heart Association. .. Know Diabetes by Heart is a joint initiative between the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, working on the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. “In addition to glycemic control, which is an absolute top priority, people with type 2 diabetes can do about other personal and family risk factors for heart disease and stroke, and what they can do to manage. We strongly encourage you to discuss this with your healthcare team. Please change them. “