# Correlation Between ALDH2 Gene Polymorphism and Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

## TL;DR

This study finds that a specific gene variant increases the risk of heart disease in patients with atrial fibrillation.

## Contribution

Identifies ALDH2 gene polymorphism as a novel risk factor for coronary artery disease in atrial fibrillation patients.

## Key findings

- ALDH2 mutant genotype (GA + AA) increases CAD risk 5.849 times compared to wild-type (GG).
- CAD patients with ALDH2 mutant genotype show higher lipid-lowering drug use than non-CAD patients.
- ALDH2 genotype polymorphism is significantly more frequent in CAD patients with atrial fibrillation.

## Abstract

The objectives of this study is to investigate the correlation between genotype polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in atrial fibrillation patients.

From November 2020 to December 2021, 80 patients with atrial fibrillation at a medical center in Chengdu were divided into two groups: CAD group (n = 25) and non‐CAD group (n = 55). The genotype composition ratio of ALDH2 (mutant‐type/wild‐type), blood biochemical indexes, the proportion of the history of lipid‐lowering drugs and time of taking lipid‐lowering drug were compared between the two groups.

The CAD group showed significantly lower levels of total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) compared with the non‐CAD group (p < 0.05), and the proportion and time of taking lipid‐lowering drugs in CAD group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The frequency of the ALDH2 genotype (mutant‐type/wild‐type) in the CAD group was notably elevated compared with that in the non‐CAD group (p < 0.05). In patients with atrial fibrillation, the risk of CAD in patients with ALDH2 mutant genotype (GA + AA) was 5.849 times that of ALDH2 wild‐type genotype (GG) (95%CI = 1.437–23.795, p < 0.05). The area under ROC curve of ALDH2 mutant genotype (GA + AA) was 0.624 (SE = 0.069, 95%CI : 0.488–0.759). In patients with ALDH2 wild‐type (GG), the levels of total cholesterol and LDL‐C in CAD group were significantly lower than those in non‐CAD group (p < 0.05). However, in patients with ALDH2 mutation genotype (GA + AA), the proportion of history of lipid‐lowering drugs in CAD group was significantly higher than that in non‐CAD group (p < 0.05).

The polymorphism of ALDH2 gene is a high risk factor for CAD in patients with atrial fibrillation. The ALDH2 mutation genotype (GA + AA) may reduce the lipid‐lowering efficacy of statins.