Variation in cardiovascular disease risk factors among older adults in the Hunter Community Study cohort: A comparison of diet quality versus polygenic risk score

William R Reay; Rebecca Haslam; Murray J Cairns; George Moschonis; Erin Clarke; John Attia; Clare Elizabeth Collins

doi:10.1111/jhn.13031

Variation in cardiovascular disease risk factors among older adults in the Hunter Community Study cohort: A comparison of diet quality versus polygenic risk score

J Hum Nutr Diet. 2022 Aug;35(4):675-688. doi: 10.1111/jhn.13031. Epub 2022 May 30.

Authors

William R Reay^{1

2}, Rebecca Haslam^{2

3

4}, Murray J Cairns^{1

2}, George Moschonis⁵, Erin Clarke^{2

3

4}, John Attia^{2

6}, Clare Elizabeth Collins^{2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
² Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia.
³ School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Department of Dietetics, Nutrition and Sport, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁶ School of Population Health and Medical Practice, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Background: The interplay between cardiovascular disease (CVD) genetic risk indexed by a polygenic risk score (PRS) and diet quality still requires further investigation amongst older adults or those with established or treated CVD. The present study aimed to evaluate the relative contribution of diet quality, measured using the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) and PRS, with respect to explaining variation in plasma lipids CVD outcomes in the Hunter Cohort.

Methods: The study comprised a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Hunter Cohort study. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms from previously derived polygenic scores (PGSs) for three lipid classes were obtained: low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides, as well as PRS for coronary artery disease (CAD) from the PGS catalogue. Regression modelling and odds ratios were used to determine associations between PRS, ARFS and CVD risk.

Results: In total, 1703 participants were included: mean ± SD age 66 ± 7.4 years, 51% female, mean ± SD total ARFS 28.1 ± 8 (out of 74). Total diet quality and vegetable subscale were not significantly associated with measured lipids. By contrast, PGS for each lipid demonstrated a markedly strong, statistically significant correlation with its respective measured lipid. There was a significant association between CAD PRS and 5/6 CVD phenotypes (all except atrial fibrillation), with the largest effect size shown with coronary bypass. Adding dietary intake as a covariate did not change this relationship.

Conclusions: Lipid PGS explained more variance in measured lipids than diet quality. However, the poor diet quality observed in the current cohort may have limited the ability to observe any beneficial effects. Future research should investigate whether the diet quality of older adults can be improved and also the effect of these improvements on changes in polygenic risk.

Keywords: Hunter Community Study; cardiovascular disease; cohort; diet quality; polygenic risk.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Australia
Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
Cardiovascular Diseases* / genetics
Cohort Studies
Coronary Artery Disease* / genetics
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet
Female
Heart Disease Risk Factors
Humans
Lipids
Male
Middle Aged
Multifactorial Inheritance
Risk Factors

Substances

Lipids