Interaction Between the Effects of Genetic Risk Score and Mental Health Disorders on Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Name
Karolin Rips
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in Estonia. In order to avoid premature mortality, it is important to assess the risk of disease even before symptoms occur. For this purpose, risk models can be created that take into account the environmental factors influencing the risk of CVD and genetic predisposition. Associations between mental health disorders and CVD risk have also been found. The master’s thesis examines whether and how depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders affect the risk of CVD and whether there is an interaction between the effects of these diseases and polygenic risk score (PRS) for coronary heart disease. Data from the Estonian Biobank and survival analysis methods are used to assess CVD risk. As a result, depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder increase the risk of CVD. Furthermore, a negative interaction between PRS and depression on CVD risk was found in women -- depression significantly increases the risk of CVD, and there is no additional effect of PRS in the presence of depression (in other words, depression overshadows the effect of PRS).
Graduation Thesis language
Estonian
Graduation Thesis type
Master - Data Science
Supervisor(s)
Kelli Lehto, Krista Fischer
Defence year
2024