Inflammation and heart failure: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: It is hypothesized that inflammation leads to heart failure. Results from observational studies thus far have been inconsistent and it is unclear whether inflammation is causally associated with new-onset heart failure. Mendelian randomization analyses are less prone to biases common in observational studies such as reverse causation and unmeasured confounding.

Causal Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Lifestyle Behaviors With Peripheral Artery Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Approach.

Background We investigated the causal associations between the genetic liability to cardiovascular and lifestyle risk factors and peripheral artery disease (PAD), using a Mendelian randomization approach. Methods and Results We performed a 2-sample inverse-variance weighted Mendelian randomization analysis, multiple sensitivity analyses to assess pleiotropy and multivariate Mendelian randomization analyses to assess mediating/confounding factors. European-ancestry genomic summary data (<5×10) for type 2 diabetes, lipid-fractions, smoking, alcohol and coffee consumption, physical activity, sleep, and education level were selected.

Alcohol Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Placing New Data in Context.

Purpose Of Review: A clear link between excessive alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been established, but no consensus exists on the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on CVD.

Recent Findings: A lower risk of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction among moderate drinkers compared to abstainers has been consistently observed in epidemiological studies and meta-analyses of these studies. However, ambiguity remains on the effect of alcohol on other CVDs and all-cause mortality.

Alcohol consumption in relation to cardiovascular diseases and mortality: a systematic review of Mendelian randomization studies.

The causal effects of alcohol-in-moderation on cardiometabolic health are continuously debated. Mendelian randomization (MR) is an established method to address causal questions in observational studies. We performed a systematic review of the current evidence from MR studies on the association between alcohol consumption and cardiometabolic diseases, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular risk factors.

Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Lifestyle Behaviors With Hypertension: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. To identify targets for the prevention of hypertension and its associated disease burden, we used the 2-sample Mendelian randomization method to investigate the causal associations of 18 cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle behaviors with hypertension. From European-descent genome-wide association studies, we selected genetic variants (<5×10) for type 2 diabetes, fasting glucose, lipids, body mass index, smoking, alcohol and coffee consumption, physical activity, sleep duration, insomnia, and educational level.

Alcohol consumption patterns across Europe and adherence to the European guidelines in coronary patients: Findings from the ESC-EORP EUROASPIRE V survey.

Background And Aims: Alcohol consumption is an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. The highest levels of alcohol consumption are observed in Europe, where alcohol as contributing cause of coronary heart disease (CHD) is also most significant. We aimed to describe alcohol consumption patterns across European regions and adherence to the current guidelines in patients with a recent CHD event.

Modifiable lifestyle factors and heart failure: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Lifestyle factors may be important targets in the prevention of heart failure. The current knowledge on the relationship between lifestyle factors and heart failure originates mostly from observational studies. The objective of this study was to investigate causal associations of multiple lifestyle factors with heart failure risk by using Mendelian randomization.

Urinary Ethyl Glucuronide as Measure of Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality compared with heavy drinkers and abstainers. To date, studies have relied on self-reported consumption, which may be prone to misclassification. Urinary ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is an alcohol metabolite and validated biomarker for recent alcohol consumption.

Moderate and heavy alcohol consumption are prospectively associated with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction: The Hoorn Study.

Background And Aims: Data on the prospective relationship of alcohol consumption at more moderate levels with systolic and diastolic function are scarce. We aimed to examine the prospective association of alcohol consumption with echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function, in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods And Results: We included 778 participants from the Hoorn Study (aged 68.

Urinary Ethyl Glucuronide Can Be Used as a Biomarker of Habitual Alcohol Consumption in the General Population.

Background: Alcohol consumption is a frequently studied risk factor for chronic diseases, but many studies are hampered by self-report of alcohol consumption. The urinary metabolite ethyl glucuronide (EtG), reflecting alcohol consumption during the past 72 h, is a promising objective marker, but population data are lacking.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of EtG as a marker for habitual alcohol consumption compared with self-report and other biomarkers in the general population.