Causal Association of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Glycemic Traits With Cardiovascular Diseases and Lipid Traits: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the causal effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and glycemic traits on the risk of a wide range of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and lipid traits using Mendelian randomization (MR).

METHODS

Genetic variants associated with T2DM, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and hemoglobin A1c were selected as instrumental variables to perform both univariable and multivariable MR analyses.

RESULTS

In univariable MR, genetically predicted T2DM was associated with higher odds of peripheral artery disease (pooled odds ratio (OR) =1.207, 95% CI: 1.162-1.254), myocardial infarction (OR =1.132, 95% CI: 1.104-1.160), ischemic heart disease (OR =1.129, 95% CI: 1.105-1.154), heart failure (OR =1.050, 95% CI: 1.029-1.072), stroke (OR =1.087, 95% CI: 1.068-1.107), ischemic stroke (OR =1.080, 95% CI: 1.059-1.102), essential hypertension (OR =1.013, 95% CI: 1.010-1.015), coronary atherosclerosis (OR =1.005, 95% CI: 1.004-1.007), and major coronary heart disease event (OR =1.003, 95% CI: 1.002-1.004). Additionally, T2DM was causally related to lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR =0.965, 95% CI: 0.958-0.973) and apolipoprotein A (OR =0.982, 95% CI: 0.977-0.987) but a higher level of triglycerides (OR =1.060, 95% CI: 1.036-1.084). Moreover, causal effect of glycemic traits on CVDs and lipid traits were also observed. Finally, most results of univariable MR were supported by multivariable MR.

CONCLUSION

We provided evidence for the causal effects of T2DM and glycemic traits on the risk of CVDs and dyslipidemia. Further investigations to elucidate the underlying mechanisms are warranted.