Tracing risk of multiple cardiovascular diseases to smoking-related genes

Heribert Schunkert ^1,2*, Shichao Pang ¹, Ling Li¹, and Guillaume Paré³

¹Klinik für Herz- und Kreislauferkrankungen, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany; ²Deutsches Zentrum für Herz- und Kreislauf-Forschung (DZHK) e.V. (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany; and ³Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

*Corresponding author. Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Klinik für Herz- und Kreislauferkrankungen, Technische Universität München, Lazarettstr. 36, D-80636 München, Germany. Tel: +49 891 218 4073, Fax: +49 891 218 4013, Email: [email protected]

Figure 1 Smoking links genetic variants with cardiovascular diseases. Smoking and other health-related lifestyle decisions are strongly influenced by the familial and social background as well as educational attainment. Genetic variants have also been shown to affect either educational attainment, smoking, or disposition for a number of cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, genetic variants that increase the probability of smoking and less educational attainment are also found more often in people who suffer from coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, abdominal aneurysm, and arterial hypertension, implying that smoking is responsible for bringing about these cardiovascular conditions.^2,3