Adiponectin Single Nucleotide Polymorphism is a Genetic Risk Factor for Stroke Through High Pulse Wave Pressure: A Cohort Study

Aim: Adiponectin is a key molecule involved in metabolic syndrome. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ADIPOQ gene encoding adiponectin correlate with various diseases, such as diabetes mellitus; however, there is insufficient information about ADIPOQ SNPs and the onset of cardiovascular events. Methods: This hospital-based cohort study included 353 patients with essential hypertension (mean age, 62.9 +/- 0.6; mean follow-up period. 7.9 +/- 0.2 years) in whom ADIPOQ SNPs encoding G276T, I164T, A349G, and/or G967A amino acid changes were detected. We analyzed the correlation between ADIPOQ SNPs and various parameters, including pulse wave velocity (PWV), and assessed whether these SNPs could be risk factors for the onset of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Results: Subjects with the T allele of G276T showed significantly lower HDL cholesterol, and significantly higher HbA1c and brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that subjects with the T allele of G276T had a significantly higher frequency of stroke (p=0.0489). The Cox proportional hazard model showed that the T allele of G276T was an independent and significant risk factor for stroke after adjusting for traditional risk factors (relative risk: 1.879, p=0.0479); however, when adjusted for traditional risk factors and baPWV, the relative risk was significantly diminished (relative risk: 0.710, p=0.4937). G276T was significantly correlated with dyslipidemia and glucose metabolism. Conclusion: The T allele of G276T was a significant and independent risk for the onset of stroke, and mediated the incidence of stroke through increased arterial stiffness.