Dataset Information

Diabetes Mellitus, Glycemic Traits, and Cerebrovascular Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We employed Mendelian randomization to explore the effects of genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes (T2D), hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction on risk of stroke subtypes and related cerebrovascular phenotypes.

Methods

We selected instruments for genetic predisposition to T2D (74,124 cases, 824,006 controls), HbA1c levels (n = 421,923), fasting glucose levels (n = 133,010), insulin resistance (n = 108,557), and β-cell dysfunction (n = 16,378) based on published genome-wide association studies. Applying 2-sample Mendelian randomization, we examined associations with ischemic stroke (60,341 cases, 454,450 controls), intracerebral hemorrhage (1,545 cases, 1,481 controls), and ischemic stroke subtypes (large artery, cardioembolic, small vessel stroke), as well as with related phenotypes (carotid atherosclerosis, imaging markers of cerebral white matter integrity, and brain atrophy).

Results

Genetic predisposition to T2D and higher HbA1c levels were associated with higher risk of any ischemic stroke, large artery stroke, and small vessel stroke. Similar associations were also noted for carotid atherosclerotic plaque, fractional anisotropy, a white matter disease marker, and markers of brain atrophy. We further found associations of genetic predisposition to insulin resistance with large artery and small vessel stroke, whereas predisposition to β-cell dysfunction was associated with small vessel stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, lower gray matter volume, and total brain volume.

Conclusions

This study supports causal effects of T2D and hyperglycemia on large artery and small vessel stroke. We show associations of genetically predicted insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction with large artery and small vessel stroke that might have implications for antidiabetic treatments targeting these mechanisms.

Classification of evidence

This study provides Class II evidence that genetic predisposition to T2D and higher HbA1c levels are associated with a higher risk of large artery and small vessel ischemic stroke.

SUBMITTER: Georgakis MK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8055310 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ImportanceObservational studies have shown associations of birth weight with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and glycemic traits, but it remains unclear whether these associations represent causal associations.ObjectiveTo test the association of birth weight with T2D and glycemic traits using a mendelian randomization analysis.Design, setting, and participantsThis mendelian randomization study used a genetic risk score for birth weight that was constructed with 7 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms. The associations of this score with birth weight and T2D were tested in a mendelian randomization analysis using study-level data. The association of birth weight with T2D was tested using both study-level data (7 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were used as an instrumental variable) and summary-level data from the consortia (43 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were used as an instrumental variable). Data from 180?056 participants from 49 studies were included.Main outcomes and measuresType 2 diabetes and glycemic traits.ResultsThis mendelian randomization analysis included 49 studies with 41?155 patients with T2D and 80?008 control participants from study-level data and 34?840 patients with T2D and 114?981 control participants from summary-level data. Study-level data showed that a 1-SD decrease in birth weight due to the genetic risk score was associated with higher risk of T2D among all participants (odds ratio [OR], 2.10; 95% CI, 1.69-2.61; P?=?4.03?×?10-5), among European participants (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.42-2.71; P?=?.04), and among East Asian participants (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.18-1.62; P?=?.04). Similar results were observed from summary-level analyses. In addition, each 1-SD lower birth weight was associated with 0.189 SD higher fasting glucose concentration (??=?0.189; SE?=?0.060; P?=?.002), but not with fasting insulin, 2-hour glucose, or hemoglobin A1c concentration.Conclusions and relevanceIn this study, a genetic predisposition to lower birth weight was associated with increased risk of T2D and higher fasting glucose concentration, suggesting genetic effects on retarded fetal growth and increased diabetes risk that either are independent of each other or operate through alterations of integrated biological mechanisms.