Beta2-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and risk of incident cardiovascular events in the elderly.
BACKGROUND
Genetic polymorphisms at codons 16 and 27 of the beta2-adrenergic receptor have been associated with altered response to sympathetic stimulation. We examined these polymorphisms in relation to cardiovascular event risk in the Cardiovascular Health Study.


RESULTS
A total of 808 black and 4441 white participants (mean age, 73 years) were genotyped for the Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu polymorphisms of the beta2-adrenergic receptor. There were 702 incident coronary events, 438 ischemic strokes, and 1136 combined cardiovascular events during 7 to 10 years of follow-up. Allele frequencies differed by race but not by age or hypertension status. Glu27 carriers had a lower risk of coronary events than Gln27 homozygotes (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.95), and there was a suggestion of decreased risk among Gly16 carriers compared with Arg16 homozygotes (hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.07). There was no association of beta2-adrenergic receptor genotype with ischemic stroke or combined cardiovascular events.


CONCLUSIONS
The Glu27 allele of the beta2-adrenergic receptor was associated with a lower risk of incident coronary events in this elderly population.
Heckbert
Susan R
SR
Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. heckbert@u.washington.edu
Hindorff
Lucia A
LA
Edwards
Karen L
KL
Psaty
Bruce M
BM
Lumley
Thomas
T
Siscovick
David S
DS
Tang
Zhonghua
Z
Durda
J Peter
JP
Kronmal
Richard A
RA
Tracy
Russell P
RP
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*; D001741:Black or African American
D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2