Genetic mapping identifies heart disease risk in people with type 2 diabetes

Previous research has confirmed that adults with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those without type 2 diabetes

"The increased genetic risk of high blood pressure may predispose some people with type 2 diabetes to heart disease, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease,

Arora and colleagues assessed the health records of 6,335 participants who participated in the Action for Control of Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial database for which genetic data was available

The researchers compared a map of more than 1,000 common genetic variants known to affect blood pressure with the DNA of study participants to determine the participants' genetic risk

The researchers found that genetic risk scores identified study participants at higher risk for cardiovascular disease:

• For those with an above-average genetic risk score, each higher degree was associated with a 12% increased risk of heart attack or stroke

  
  

• The relationship between genetic risk and cardiovascular events was the same even when participants took medication to control blood sugar levels

  
  

Further evaluation of genetic risk scores in non-type 2 diabetic patients is needed before these findings can be applied more broadly

Arora and colleagues also note that findings on individual differences in genetic risk scores for hypertension do not fully explain why intensive glycemic control (aggressive treatment with insulin, medications, diet, and exercise) appears to be beneficial in people with long-term type 2 diabetes no cardiovascular benefit

"However, genetic risk scores may help people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes to determine who should make more intense life>

"If you have type 2 diabetes, there are a lot of things you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease," said Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAHA, FAAFP, chief medical officer for prevention at the American Heart Association, Know Diabetes by Clinical leadership of Heart, a collaborative initiative between the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association to address the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Journal Reference :

1. Vibhu Parcha, Akhil Pampana, Adam P.