The 2-Step Mendelian Randomisation Study Assesses Genetic Causality and Potential Mediators of Periodontal Disease and Atrial Fibrillation.

Introduction And Aims: This study aims to examine the possible causal link between periodontal diseases and atrial fibrillation (AF), with a focus on the modifiable risk factors that facilitate this connection.

Method: Firstly, bidirectional and multivariable Mendelian Randomisation (MR) analyses were conducted using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data on periodontal disease (87,497 cases/259,234 controls) from FinnGen and AF (55,114 cases/482,295 controls) from AFGen. Then, a 2-step MR approach was employed to evaluate the mediating role and proportions of 25 candidate factors among the direct causality between periodontal disease and AF.