Large genetic study shows evidence of link between inflammation and heart disease

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute participated in the largest genetic study of coronary artery disease to date. The study was published in the scientific magazine Nature. 15 genetic regions were newly associated with the disease, bringing the total to 46. The research team also identified 104 independent genetic variants that are highly likely to be associated with the disease. These discoveries have helped other doctors from the Heart Institute identify biological pathways that underlie the disease and showed that lipid metabolism and inflammation play a significant role. These findings show clear evidence that several of the genetic risk factors for coronary artery disease function through known inflammatory pathways, which could pave the way for developing new therapies.