Genome-Wide Association of Cardiovascular Disease and Lifestyle in Korean Adults With Metabolic Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major complication in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The risk of CVD is influenced by genetic, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with CVD risk in patients with MetS and examine the impact of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and genetic factors. METHODS: We analyzed baseline data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study-Urban Health Examinee cohort (KoGES-HEXA). MetS was defined as the presence of three or more of the MetS risk factors based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Participants who reported a diagnosis of angina, myocardial infarction, or stroke were classified into the CVD group. PLINK 1.9 was used to identify CVD-related SNPs, and logistic regression analyses to estimate odds ratios for CVD were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 27.0) and SAS (Version 9.4) software. RESULTS: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted with 12,047 participants, comprising 839 participants in the CVD group and 11,208 in the non-CVD group. Three SNPs were associated with CVD. Sex, age, income level, drinking, smoking, sleep duration, nutrient intake, and specific SNPs were associated with CVD. DISCUSSION: These findings highlight the identification of suggestive SNPs associated with CVD among individuals with MetS in a non-European population, addressing gaps in genomic research. Associations with alcohol consumption, smoking, and diet may reflect reverse causation or confounding rather than protective effects, and further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal relationships.