# A genome-wide association study based on the China Kadoorie Biobank identifies genetic associations between snoring and cardiometabolic traits

## TL;DR

This study identifies genetic links to snoring in Chinese individuals and shows that managing cardiometabolic health can help prevent snoring.

## Contribution

The study discovers four novel genetic loci associated with snoring and establishes causal relationships with cardiometabolic traits.

## Key findings

- Four novel genetic loci were identified for snoring traits in Chinese individuals.
- Higher BMI, weight, and elevated blood pressure were found to cause snoring.
- A reverse causal effect was observed between snoring and diastolic blood pressure.

## Abstract

Despite the high prevalence of snoring in Asia, little is known about the genetic etiology of snoring and its causal relationships with cardiometabolic traits. Based on 100,626 Chinese individuals, a genome-wide association study on snoring was conducted. Four novel loci were identified for snoring traits mapped on SLC25A21, the intergenic region of WDR11 and FGFR, NAA25, ALDH2, and VTI1A, respectively. The novel loci highlighted the roles of structural abnormality of the upper airway and craniofacial region and dysfunction of metabolic and transport systems in the development of snoring. In the two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization analysis, higher body mass index, weight, and elevated blood pressure were causal for snoring, and a reverse causal effect was observed between snoring and diastolic blood pressure. Altogether, our results revealed the possible etiology of snoring in China and indicated that managing cardiometabolic health was essential to snoring prevention, and hypertension should be considered among snorers.

A genome-wide association study in the China Kadoorie Biobank identified four novel loci related to snoring, and highlights the relevance of cardiometabolic health to snoring prevention.