# The 14-year cumulative genetic high blood pressure and risk of type 2 diabetes in Korean: observational and Mendelian randomization evidence

## TL;DR

This study shows that high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes have a bidirectional causal relationship in Koreans, with genetic factors playing a role in increasing diabetes risk.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence of bidirectional causality between blood pressure and type 2 diabetes in Koreans, emphasizing genetic predisposition.

## Key findings

- Genetically determined 10 mm/Hg higher systolic blood pressure caused a 0.63 mmol/L increase in fasting blood sugar.
- Men showed a stronger bidirectional causal relationship between blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
- Uncontrolled blood pressure patterns were linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

## Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the causal association of blood pressure (BP) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and assess the cumulative effect of genetic predisposition of high BP or glycemic for future clinical in Korea. To assess the bidirectional causal association between fasting blood sugar (FBS) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the large biobank, five MR methods (a 2-stage least squares (2SLS) regression, inverse-variance weighted (IVW), 2 median-based (simple and weighted) and MR-Egger) were applied using the weighted genetic risk score (wGRS). A bidirectional causality was found in all five methods, and there was no horizontal pleiotropy. Using the 2SLS regression method, genetically determined 10 mm/Hg elevation of SBP caused an increased 0.63 mmol/L FBS (p < 0.0001). Men had a particularly strong bidirectional causal relationship. Distinct predicted trajectories based on genetically determined SBP and FBS levels were identified using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM). To assess the risk of subsequent hypertension or T2D in each trajectory, the Cox proportional hazard model, and adjusted covariates (including wGRS) were conducted. An uncontrol predicted SBP pattern (fluctuated plot) had a higher risk of subsequence T2D than a control-predicted pattern (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.00–1.58). In the Korean middle-aged, it was significantly demonstrated that there is a bidirectional causality between high BP and T2D, which is different from previous studies in Europe. Specially, cumulative high blood pressure predisposition by the genetic variants may affect to risk of T2D incidence. Prevention of high BP must be followed in lifespan.