Association between polymorphisms in connexin 40 gene (Cx40) and risk of atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis based on 3,452 subjects

Abstract

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that is associated with heart failure and stroke, leading sometimes to death. But the pathogenesis of AF remains unclear. Numerous studies have investigated whether the connexin 40 (Cx40) polymorphisms influences the risk of AF, but the results are controversial.

Methods

We searched English and Chinese databases and calculated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to examine the existence of genetic associations between the Cx40 polymorphisms and the risk of AF. All relevant studies were screened and meta-analyzed using Review Manager 5.0.

Results

A total of 12 studies, including 10 studies for –44 polymorphism (rs35594137) and 4 studies for –26 polymorphism (rs10465885), were identified for the meta-analysis. For –44 polymorphism, the results showed a significantly increased risk of AF in the five genetic models in the overall analysis. Furthermore, in subgroup analysis, increased AF risks were also observed in Asian and non-Asian populations. For –26 polymorphism, the overall OR revealed an increased risk of AF in dominant model. In subgroup analysis, increased AF risk was only found in recessive genetic model of the Asian population.

Conclusions

The Cx40 polymorphisms were positively associated with AF in both populations, especially on –44 polymorphism.

Keywords:

• Atrial fibrillation
• AF
• connexin 40 (Cx40)
• polymorphism
• meta-analysis

Author contribution

Designed the study: Zheng Lian and Cai-Xia Guo. Searched databases and collected full-text papers: Zheng Ma and Zhi-Li Zhang. Extracted and analysed the data: Pei-Lin Liu and Guo-Yong Zhang. Statistical analyses: Zheng Lian. Wrote the manuscript: Zheng Lian. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there are no competing interests associated with the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Tongren Hospital Youth Fund under grant number 2021-YJJ-ZZL-051.