Background Existing research demonstrates the association of shorter leukocyte telomere length with increased risk of age-related health outcomes including cardiovascular diseases. However, the direct causality of these relationships has not been definitively established. Cardiovascular aging at an organ level may be captured using image-derived phenotypes of cardiac anatomy and function.Methods and Results In the current study, we use 2-sample Mendelian randomization to assess the causal link between leukocyte telomere length and 54 cardiac magnetic resonance imaging measures representing structure and function across the 4 cardiac chambers. Genetically predicted shorter leukocyte telomere length was causally linked to smaller ventricular cavity sizes including left ventricular end-systolic volume, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, lower left ventricular mass, and pulmonary artery. The association with left ventricular mass (beta =0.217, Pfalse discovery rate=0.016) remained significant after multiple testing adjustment, whereas other associations were attenuated.Conclusions Our findings support a causal role for shorter leukocyte telomere length and faster cardiac aging, with the most prominent relationship with left ventricular mass.
Leukocyte Telomere Length and Cardiac Structure and Function: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Ahmed M. Salih
;Ilaria Boscolo Galazzo;Gloria Menegaz;
2024-01-01
Abstract
Background Existing research demonstrates the association of shorter leukocyte telomere length with increased risk of age-related health outcomes including cardiovascular diseases. However, the direct causality of these relationships has not been definitively established. Cardiovascular aging at an organ level may be captured using image-derived phenotypes of cardiac anatomy and function.Methods and Results In the current study, we use 2-sample Mendelian randomization to assess the causal link between leukocyte telomere length and 54 cardiac magnetic resonance imaging measures representing structure and function across the 4 cardiac chambers. Genetically predicted shorter leukocyte telomere length was causally linked to smaller ventricular cavity sizes including left ventricular end-systolic volume, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, lower left ventricular mass, and pulmonary artery. The association with left ventricular mass (beta =0.217, Pfalse discovery rate=0.016) remained significant after multiple testing adjustment, whereas other associations were attenuated.Conclusions Our findings support a causal role for shorter leukocyte telomere length and faster cardiac aging, with the most prominent relationship with left ventricular mass.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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