AUTHOR=Liu Pengyu , Shang Juju , Qi Zhi , Qiu Shenglei , Lai Xiaolei , Shi Lixiao , Zhang Zhenmin , Li Mingxuan , Yang Linjing TITLE=Association of ankylosing spondylitis with cardiovascular disease: a bidirectional two-sample mendelian randomization study JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics VOLUME=15 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2024.1260247 DOI=10.3389/fgene.2024.1260247 ISSN=1664-8021 ABSTRACT=Backgrounds

Current observational investigations hint at a potential linkage between ankylosing spondylitis and cardiovascular wellness. However, the nature of this causality remains to be elucidated. Consequently, this study is designed to evaluate the causal interconnection between ankylosing spondylitis and cardiovascular-related conditions utilizing a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) methodology.

Methods

In this study, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. The fixed-effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) model was used as the primary analysis method, and MR-Egger regression and the weighted median method were employed as supplementary approaches. Horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity were evaluated using various statistical tests, including MR-PRESSO global test, MR-Egger intercept, and Cochran’s Q test.

Results

The MR result demonstrated an increased risk of heart failure in individuals with ankylosing spondylitis (OR: 1.0132, 95% CI = 1.0043-1.0221, p = 0.003). The MR analysis results did not demonstrate a causal relationship between ankylosing spondylitis and other cardiovascular diseases, such as atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and valvular heart disease (all p > 0.05). No evidence of reverse causality was found between ankylosing spondylitis and mentioned cardiovascular diseases in reverse MR analyses. Sensitivity analysis verified the reliability of the results.

Conclusion

Our MR study indicates a relationship between ankylosing spondylitis and an increased risk of heart failure. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved.