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Methylation‐based estimated biological age and cardiovascular disease
Author(s) -
Lind Lars,
Ingelsson Erik,
Sundström Johan,
Siegbahn Agneta,
Lampa Erik
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/eci.12872
Subject(s) - medicine , disease , prospective cohort study , blood pressure , dna methylation , diabetes mellitus , cohort study , cohort , population , endocrinology , biology , genetics , gene expression , environmental health , gene
Background DNA methylation changes over life at specific sites in the genome, which can be used to estimate “biological age.” The aim of this population‐based longitudinal cohort study was to investigate the association between estimated biological age and incident cardiovascular disease ( CVD ). Materials and methods Based on formulas published by Hannum et al and Horvath et al, “biological age” was calculated using data from the Illumina 450k Bead Methylation chip in 832 participants free from cardiovascular disease in the Prospective Study of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors ( PIVUS ) study (50% women, all aged 70 years at the examination). The difference between estimated biological and chronological age was calculated (DiffAge). Results During 10 years of follow‐up, 153 incident cases of cardiovascular disease occurred. In the sex‐adjusted analyses, the Horvath estimation of DiffAge was significantly related to incident cardiovascular disease ( HR 1.040, 95% CI 1.010‐1.071, P = .0079). Thus, for each year of increased biological age, a 4% increased risk of future cardiovascular disease was observed. This relationship was still significant following adjustment for the traditional risk factors sex, BMI , diabetes, HDL and LDL ‐cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and smoking ( HR 1.033, 95% CI 1.004‐1.063, P = .024). No such significant association was found using the Hannum formula. Conclusions DNA methylation‐based estimation of “biological age” per Horvath was associated with incident cardiovascular disease.