Cholesterol associated genetic risk score and acute coronary syndrome in Czech males

Background Despite a general decline in mean levels across populations, LDL-cholesterol levels remain a major risk factor for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The APOB , LDL-R , CILP , and SORT-1 genes have been shown to contain variants that have significant effects on plasma cholesterol levels. Methods and results We examined polymorphisms within these genes in 1191 controls and 929 patients with ACS. Only rs646776 within SORT-1 was significantly associated with a risk of ACS (P < 0.05, AA vs. + G comparison; OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.01–1.45). With regard to genetic risk score (GRS), the presence of at least 7 alleles associated with elevated cholesterol levels was connected with increased risk (P < 0.01) of ACS (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.06–1.52). Neither total mortality nor CVD mortality in ACS subjects (follow up—9.84 ± 3.82 years) was associated with the SNPs analysed or cholesterol-associated GRS. Conclusions We conclude that, based on only a few potent SNPs known to affect plasma cholesterol, GRS has the potential to predict ACS risk, but not ACS associated mortality.