Harnessing Whole Genome Polygenic Risk Scores to Stratify Individuals Based on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Biomarkers at Age 10 in the Lifecourse-Brief Report

Background: In this study, we investigated the capability of polygenic risk scores to stratify a cohort of young individuals into risk deciles based on 10 different cardiovascular traits and circulating biomarkers. Methods: We first conducted large-scale genome-wide association studies using data on adults (mean age 56.5 years) enrolled in the UK Biobank study (n=393 193 to n=461 460). Traits and biomarkers analyzed were body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein A-I, C-reactive protein and vitamin D. Findings were then leveraged to build whole genome polygenic risk scores in participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (mean age, 9.9 years) which were used to stratify this cohort into deciles in turn and analyzed against their respective traits. Results: For each of the 10 different traits assessed, we found strong evidence of an incremental trend across deciles (all P<0.0001). Large differences were identified when comparing top and bottom deciles; for example, using the apolipoprotein B polygenic risk scores there was a mean difference of 13.2 mg/dL for this established risk factor of coronary heart disease in later life. Conclusions: Although the use of polygenic prediction in a clinical setting may currently be premature, our findings suggest they are becoming increasingly powerful as a means of predicting complex trait variation at an early stage in the lifecourse.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the potential of polygenic risk scores in stratifying individuals based on cardiovascular traits and biomarkers. The findings highlight the predictive power of these scores in early detection of complex trait variations.