Lung function & cardiovascular disease. A Two Sample Mendelian Randomisation Study

Background Observational studies suggest an association between reduced lung function and risk of coronary artery disease and ischaemic stroke, independent of shared cardiovascular risk factors such as cigarette smoking. We use the latest genetic epidemiological methods to determine if impaired lung function is causally associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Methods and Findings Mendelian Randomisation uses genetic variants as instrumental variables to investigate causation. Preliminary analysis used two sample Mendelian Randomisation with lung function single nucleotide polymorphisms. To avoid collider bias the main analysis used single nucleotide polymorphisms for lung function identified from UKBiobank in a Multivariable Mendelian Randomisation model conditioning for height, body mass index and smoking.

Multivariable Mendelian Randomisation shows strong evidence that reduced FVC causes increased risk of coronary artery disease, Odds Ratio:1·32 (1·19–1·46) per Standard Deviation. Reduced FEV₁ is unlikely to be cause increased risk of coronary artery disease as evidence of its effect becomes weak after conditioning for height 1·08 (0·89, 1·30). There is weak evidence that reduced lung function increases risk of ischaemic stroke.

Conclusion There is strong evidence that reduced FVC is independently and causally associated with coronary artery disease. Although the mechanism remains unclear, FVC could be taken into consideration when assessing cardiovascular risk and considered a potential target for reducing cardiovascular events. FEV₁ and airflow obstruction do not appear to cause increased cardiovascular events, confounding and collider bias may explain previous findings of a causal association.