Genetic risks after coronary artery bypass surgery

A study recently published in the journal Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery and carried out at the University of Turku using FinnGen data reveals significant gender differences in genetic risks after coronary artery bypass surgery. The study, which analyzed genetic data from 17,578 men and 5561 women, shows that men and women have different risks of developing adverse events, such as atrial fibrillation and intracranial hemorrhage, after surgery.

The research is based on the need to better understand how genetic factors affect postoperative complications in different genders. Coronary artery bypass grafting is a common procedure, but it involves significant risks that can vary depending on individual genetic profiles. The study used polygenic risk scores (PRS) to estimate participants’ genetic predisposition to various complications.

The researchers used Cox regression models to analyze gender-specific differences between polygenic risk scores and postoperative complications. The results showed that the AF-PRS risk score for atrial fibrillation was more strongly associated with atrial fibrillation in men than in women. This suggests that men have a higher genetic predisposition to develop atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery. On the other hand, in women, the risk score for intracranial haemorrhage ICH-PRS was more strongly associated with intracranial hemorrhage than in men, suggesting a higher genetic risk in women for this complication.

The study concluded that gender-specific polygenic risk scores could be utilized in clinical practice to identify individuals at high genetic risk of developing certain complications after coronary artery bypass surgery. This could allow for better risk assessment and individualised treatment planning, which would improve patient prognosis and reduce postoperative complications.

Source:

Jouko Marko Nurkkala, Jenni Aittokallio, FinnGen , Anni Kauko, Teemu Niiranen, Sex-specific genetic risks for adverse outcomes after coronary revascularization procedures, Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, Volume 38, Issue 1, January 2024, ivae006, https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivae006