Genetic analysis of obstructive sleep apnoea discovers a strong association with cardiometabolic health

There is currently limited understanding of the genetic aetiology of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). We aimed to identify genetic loci associated with OSA risk, and to test if OSA and its comorbidities share a common genetic background. We conducted the first large-scale genome-wide association study of OSA using the FinnGen study (217955 individuals) with 16761 OSA patients identified using nationwide health registries. We estimated 0.08 (95% CI 0.06-0.11) heritability and identified five loci associated with OSA (p < 5.0x10(-8)): rs4837016 near GAPVD1 (GTPase activating protein and VPS9 domains 1), rs10928560 near CXCR4 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor type 4), rs185932673 near CAMK1D (calcium/calmodulindependent protein kinase ID) and rs9937053 near FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated protein; a variant previously associated with body mass index (BMI)). In a BMI-adjusted analysis, an association was observed for rs10507084 near RMST/NEDD1 (rhabdomyosarcoma 2 associated transcript/NEDD1 gamma tubulin ring complex targeting factor). We found high genetic correlations between OSA and BMI (r(g)=0.72 (95% CI 0.62-0.83)), and with comorbidities including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, depression, hypothyroidism, asthma and inflammatory rheumatic disease (rg > 0.30). The polygenic risk score for BMI showed 1.98-fold increased OSA risk between the highest and the lowest quintile, and Mendelian randomisation supported a causal relationship between BMI and OSA. Our findings support the causal link between obesity and OSA, and the joint genetic basis between OSA and comorbidities.

Automated summary

This study identified five genetic loci associated with OSA risk and found high genetic correlations between OSA and comorbidities such as obesity. The findings support a causal link between obesity and OSA, indicating a joint genetic basis between OSA and related health conditions.