Ethnic Differences in Coronary Heart Disease

What is it about?

Wide differences in coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence and mortality rates between populations or ethnic groups are often not fully explained by their respective distribution of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. This discrepancy could be due to genetic variations at the inter-population level. In this study we addressed this question through the striking example of the low mortality rate from CHD observed in Afro-Caribbeans despite a high prevalence of risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity seen in the general population. Using a genetic risk score approach we found that the genetic burden for CHD identified by this genetic risk score was significantly lower in Afro-Caribbeans than in Caucasians and could be a major contributor to the disparity in CHD mortality between these 2 populations.

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Why is it important?

This study is the first to analyse the association of common genetic risk markers with CHD in Afro-Caribbeans using a constructed genetic risk score. We also highlight the usefulness of a genetic risk score to explain the disparities in CHD risk within and between populations.

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