Role of mitochondrial DNA copy number in incident cardiovascular diseases and the association between cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes: A follow-up study on middle-aged women

Background and aims: Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) is a surrogate biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction and is associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, despite being associated with both CVD and T2D, it is not known what role mtDNA-CN has in the association between T2D and CVD. Our aims were to investigate whether, (1) baseline mtDNA-CN is associated with CVD incidence and (2) mtDNA-CN has a role as a mediator between T2D and CVD. Method: We quantified absolute mtDNA-CN by droplet digital PCR method in a population-based follow-up study of middle aged (52-65 years) women (n = 3062). The median follow-up period was 17 years. Results: Our results show that low baseline levels of mtDNA-CN (< 111 copies/mu L) were associated with an increased risk of CVD (HR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.08; 1.63) as well as with specific CVDs: coronary heart disease (HR = 1.28, 95% CI = 0.99; 1.66), stroke (HR = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.87; 1.84) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (HR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.03; 6.62). The associations decreased but persisted even after adjustment for potential confounders. Furthermore, our results show that the total effect of T2D on future risk of CVD was reduced after controlling for mtDNA-CN and the proportion mediated by mtDNA-CN was estimated to be 4.9%. Conclusions: Lower baseline mtDNA-CN is associated with incident CVD and may have a mediating effect on the association between T2D and CVD; however, this novel observation needs to be confirmed in future studies.

Automated summary

This study found that low baseline mtDNA-CN levels are associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and may play a mediating role in the association between type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.