Prevalence of Genetic Variants Associated with Atrial Fibrillation Risk in the Asymptomatic Young Adult Population

• Published in: Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Vol. 61; no. 5; p. 900
• Main Authors: Murugan, Manoranjani, Ravikumar, Sambandam, Ganesh, Irisappan, Vetriselvan, Yogesh, Priyadharshini, Arunagiri, Ballambattu, Vishnu Bhat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 15.05.2025; MDPI
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Asymptomatic; Atrial fibrillation; Atrial Fibrillation - epidemiology; Atrial Fibrillation - genetics; Body mass index; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cardiovascular disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Development and progression; Equilibrium; Female; Gene Frequency; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; Genetic research; Genetic testing; genetic variants; Genetic Variation - genetics; Heart; Humans; Hypertension; India - epidemiology; Lifestyles; Male; Metabolism; Overweight; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Population; Prevalence; Risk Factors; SNP; Teenagers; transcription factors; Young Adult; Young adults; Youth; India; Germany; genetic variants; atrial fibrillation; SNP; transcription factors; young adults
• ISSN: 1648-9144; 1010-660X; 1648-9144
• DOI: 10.3390/medicina61050900

Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia globally, leading to a high risk of stroke and heart failure. Genetic factors are known to play an essential role in AF risk. However, studies on genetic predisposition in asymptomatic young populations remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of genetic variants in the PITX2 (rs2200733, rs10033464, and rs13143308), TBX5 (rs883079), PRRX1 (rs3903239), ZFHX3 (rs2106261), and HAND2 (rs7698692) polymorphisms and to assess their correlation with susceptibility to AF in a young adult population in India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 250 subjects aged 18–29. Detailed lifestyle and family histories were collected for each participant. Genetic variation was determined using a specific TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) analysis and chi-square tests were employed to assess genotype frequencies, and statistical associations with lifestyle factors (body mass index, alcohol consumption, and smoking) were evaluated using t-tests and descriptive statistics. Results: Minor allele frequencies were varied across the study population, with notable frequencies in rs2200733 T (16%), rs10033464 T (27%), rs13143308 T (32%), rs883079 T (46%), rs3903239 G (25%), rs2106261 T (26%), and rs7698692 G (14%). HWE analysis confirmed that all SNPs were in equilibrium (p > 0.05). Approximately 15% of individuals carried six or more risk alleles, indicating a significant genetic predisposition to AF despite the absence of clinical symptoms. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the genetic predisposition to AF among young adults in India. The high prevalence of risk alleles in asymptomatic young adults highlights the necessity of early genetic screening for AF risk and the role of genetic counseling in preventing cardiac complications.