Genetically predicted ankylosing spondylitis increases the risk of heart failure: a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND

Observational studies have indicated a potential association between ankylosing spondylitis and elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, it remains uncertain whether this association reflects a causal association. Therefore, we conducted this Mendelian randomization to investigate the causal relationship between ankylosing spondylitis and CVD.

METHODS

We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to establish a causal relationship between ankylosing spondylitis and the risk of six prevalent CVDs: hypertension, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and peripheral artery disease. Furthermore, multivariate Mendelian randomization was employed to determine the influence of confounding factors.

RESULTS

Genetically predicted ankylosing spondylitis increased the risk of heart failure according to the Mendelian randomization analysis (OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 1.00-1.04;  = 0.030). Multivariate analysis results indicated that the causal relationship between ankylosing spondylitis and heart failure risk remained significant after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, smoking, body mass index, and pulse wave reflection index. The associations diminished and lost significance after adjusting for pulse wave peak-to-peak time and pulse wave arterial stiffness index.

CONCLUSION

Genetically predicted ankylosing spondylitis increased the risk of heart failure, and the causality may partly be mediated by increased arterial stiffness.