Background
Previous studies linked platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and its receptor beta (PDGFRB) genetic variants to coronary artery disease (CAD), but their impact on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) remains unclear.
Methods
A cohort study of 3139 CAD patients, followed until December 1, 2022 (median 5.42 years), genotyped 13 tagSNPs in PDGFs/PDGFRB pathway genes to establish weighted genetic risk scores (wGRS). Adjusted Cox regression analyzed the association of SNPs and wGRS with MACE outcomes. The wGRS impact on traditional risk factors (TRFs) and Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score for MACEs was assessed using the C-statistic, net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Multiple Cox regression examined coronary artery lesion counts and MACE occurrence in wGRS groups.
Results
The results showed that the A allele (vs G allele) of rs246390 was associated with an increased risk of MACEs (adjusted HR = 1.171, P = 0.013) and CVD (adjusted HR = 1.174, P = 0.036). Compared to low wGRSMACE (Q1 of quintile), high wGRSMACE (Q5 of quintile) had an increased risk of MACEs with adjusted HRs of 1.441 (P = 0.006). Additionally, patients with vessel lesions in medium wGRSCVD (Q2 ~ Q4) and high wGRSCVD (Q5) groups showed significantly higher CVD incidence than those with no vessel lesion and low wGRSCVD (Q1) levels, with adjusted HRs of 2.427 and 2.724 (P < 0.001) respectively.
Conclusions
Variants of the PDGF-PDGFRB pathway genes contribute to the risk of MACEs after CAD; the wGRS could serve as a risk predictor of MACEs in addition to TRFs.