Adiponectin gene polymorphisms and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among female rape survivors: an exploratory study

Figures & data

Table 1. General characteristics of the study cohort (N = 455).

Sociodemographic	Mean ± SD or n (%)
Age (years), mean ± SD	25.3 (5.5)
Age (years), median (IQR)	24.0 (21.0, 29.0)
Relationship status, N = 454, n(%)
Single, separated or divorced	107 (23.6%)
Relationship, not cohabiting	34 (7.5%)
Married or cohabiting	313 (68.9%)
Socioeconomic status (SES), n(%)
Secondary education completed,	256 (56.3%)
Employed	120 (26.4%)
Chronic medical illness, n(%)
Hypertension	18 (4.0%)
Diabetes	72 (15.8%)
HIV infection	221 (48.6%)
Adiposity measures
Body Mass Index, kg/m^2	26.6 (6.4)
Body Mass Index Categories, n (%)
Underweight: BMI <18.5 kg/m^2	31 (6.8%)
Normal weight: BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m^2	186 (40.9%)
Overweight: BMI 25–29.9 kg/m^2	111 (24.4%)
Obese: BMI ≥30 kg/m^2	127 (27.9%)
Previous trauma exposure
Childhood trauma
Childhood Trauma (CTQ-SF) score, mean ± SD	16.8 (3.7)
Childhood Trauma (CTQ-SF) score, median (IQR)	16.0 (14.0, 18.0)
Categories of childhood trauma, n (%)
Physical abuse	200 (44.0%)
Emotional abuse	117 (25.7%)
Sexual abuse	94 (20.8%)
Neglect	194 (42.6%)
Witnessed abuse	66 (14.5%)
Lifetime trauma
Lifetime Trauma (LEC), score, mean ± SD	2.1 (1.8)
Lifetime Trauma (LEC), score, median (IQR)	2.0 (1.0, 3.0)
Mental Health factors
Posttraumatic stress score (DTS)	71.3 (31.5)
Depression score (CES-D), mean ± SD	33.9 (12.6)
Previous rape exposure, n(%)	234 (51.4%)

Notes: Data are expressed as mean (SD) for continuous variables with normal distribution, and further expressed as median (IQR) if distribution is skewed, and N, (percentage) for categorical variables, Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS).

Figure 1. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) map. Linkage disequilibrium for the 8 ADIPOQ polymorphisms investigated. D’ values are depicted in the diamonds, with darker colours depicting stronger LD. The LD map was created using the confidence interval of LD, implemented in Haploview version 4.2.

Table 2. Characteristics of the eight SNPs genotyped in 455 participants.

Name	Position	Region in gene	ObsHET	PredHET	HW p-value	%Geno	MAF	Alleles (major/minor)
rs17300539	188042154	Promoter	0.012	0.012	1	99.8	0.006	G/A
rs16861194	188042119	Promoter	0.371	0.357	.3202	97.2	0.233	A/G
rs16861205	188044328	Intron 1	0.309	0.309	1	99.4	0.191	G/A
rs2241766	188053586	Exon 2	0.065	0.063	.8047	99.3	0.033	T/G
rs6444174	188055883	Intergenic	0.378	0.388	.4824	99.4	0.264	T/C
rs822395	188049501	Intron 1	0.478	0.478	1	99.3	0.396	C/A
rs1501299	188053817	Intron 2	0.568	0.5	8.75E-05	99.9	0.488	T/G
rs1403697	188059387	3′-UTR	0.311	0.29	.035	99.9	0.176	A/G

Notes: ObsHET, SNPs observed heterozygosity; PredHET, marker’s predicted heterozygosity i.e. 2*MAF*(1-MAF); HW, Hardy-Weinberg; MAF, minor allele frequency; SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism; UTR, untranslated region.

Table 3. Genotype distribution of the selected ADIPOQ SNPs with PTSS severity at baseline, 3 and 6 months.

	Genotype distribution			PTSS at baseline	PTSS at 3 months	PTSS at 6 months	Mean PTSS difference (baseline-3 months)		Mean PTSS difference (3–6 months)		Mean PTSS difference (baseline – 6months)
Adiponectin SNP	Genotypes	N	%	Mean (95% CI)	Mean (95% CI)	Mean (95% CI)	Mean difference (95% CI)	p value	Mean difference (95% CI)	p value	Mean difference (95% CI)	p value
rs17300539	GA	6	1.3	74.4 (46.2; 102.6)	22.6 (8.0; 37.1)	23.1 (12.3; 33.9)	−51.8 (−82.6; −21.1)	.008	0.5 (−21.8; 22.8)	.954	−51.3 (−82.9; 19.7)	.009
	GG	445	97.8	71.5 (68.6; 74.4)	40.7 (37.7; 43.7)	32.9 (30.2; 35.6)	−30.8 (−34.3; −27.3)	<.001	−7.8 (−11.0; −4.6)	<.001	−39.6 (−42.0; −35.1)	<.001
	Missing^a	4	0.9
rs16861194	AA	252	55.4	70.6 (66.6; 74.6)	41.2 (37.1; 45.3)	32.4 (28.9; 35.9)	−29.4 (−33.9; −24.8)	<.001	−8.9 (−13.2; −4.6)	<.001	−38.2 (−42.8; −33.6)	<.001
	GA	165	36.3	72.3 (67.9; 76.8)	41.7 (36.7; 46.6)	33.4 (28.9; 37.8)	−30.7 (−36.3; −25.0)	<.001	−8.3 (−13.4; −3.1)	.002	−39.0 (−44.3; −3.6)	<.001
	GG	22	4.8	73.0 (56.7; 89.4)	35.9 (23.4; 48.5)	33.9 (19.8; 47.9)	−37.1 (−56.8; −17.4)	.001	−2.01 (−15.3; 11.2)	.749	−39.1 (−60.7; −17.6)	.001
	Missing^a	16	3.5
rs16861205	AA	18	4.0	73.9 (59.4; 88.4)	31.5 (18.1; 45.0)	19.2 (8.7; 29.7)	−42.4 (−62.6; −22.1)	<.001	−12.4 (−24.4; −0.3)	.045	−54.7 (−72.4; −37.1)	<.001
	AG	142	31.2	69.3 (64.3; 74.2)	41.8 (36.3; 47.3)	34.3 (29.4; 39.1)	−27.4 (−33.2; −21.7)	<.001	−7.6 (−13.3; −1.9)	.010	−35.0 (−40.8; −29.1)	<.001
	GG	290	63.7	72.8 (69.2; 76.5)	40.8 (37.1; 44.5)	33.4 (30.1; 36.7)	−32.0 (−36.6; −27.6)	<.001	−7.4 (−11.4; −3.4)	<.001	−39.5 (−43.8; −35.1)	<.001
	Missing^a	5	1.1
rs2241766	TG	24	5.3	75.3 (63.3; 87.3)	45.7 (30.5; 60.9)	36.0 (27.2; 44.8)	−29.6 (−44.6; −14.6)	.001	−9.7 (−22.0; 2.6)	.117	−39.3 (−49.3; −29.3)	<.001
	TT	426	93.6	71.1 (68.1; 74.1)	40.3 (37.2; 43.4)	32.7 (29.9; 35.4)	−30.8 (−34.4; −27.2)	<.001	−7.6 (−10.9; −4.4)	<.001	−38.5 (−42.0; −34.9)	<.001
	Missing^a	5	1.1
rs6444174	CC	32	7.0	60.1 (49.7; 70.6)	30.9 (21.7; 40.2)	32.3 (22.2; 42.5)	−29.2 (−43.7; −14.7)	<.001	1.4 (−10.0; 12.8)	.806	−27.8 (−41.1; −14.5)	<.001
	TC	169	37.1	70.4 (65.8; 74.9)	40.1 (34.9; 45.3)	29.8 (25.3; 34.3)	−30.3 (−35.9; −24.7)	<.001	−10.3 (−15.3; −5.3)	<.001	−40.6 (−46.3; −34.9)	<.001
	TT	250	55.0	73.8 (69.8; 77.7)	42.4 (38.4; 46.3)	34.7 (31.3; 38.1)	−31.4 (−36.1; −26.7)	<.001	−7.6 (−11.9; −3.4)	.001	−39.1 (−43.6; −34.5)	<.001
	Missing^a	4	0.9
rs822395	AA	81	17.8	70.4 (63.6; 77.2)	43.4 (36.1; 50.7)	33.2 (26.6; 39.8)	−27.0 (−34.4; −19.6)	<.001	−10.2 (−17.7; −2.7)	.008	−37.2 (−44.8; −29.6)	<.001
	CA	210	46.2	71.6 (67.5; 75.6)	36.8 (32.8; 40.9)	31.6 (27.8; 35.4)	−34.7 (−39.9; −29.6)	<.001	−5.2 (−9.5; −0.9)	.017	−40.0 (−45.1; −34.8)	<.001
	CC	158	34.7	71.4 (66.2; 76.6)	42.8 (37.5; 48.2)	33.9 (29.4; 38.4)	−28.6 (−34.5; −22.6)	<.001	−8.9 (−14.7; −3.1)	.003	−37.5 (−43.3; −31.7)	<.001
	Missing^a	6	1.3

^a Missing refers to missing genotype. PTSS, posttraumatic stress score according to the Davidson Trauma Scale.

Table 4. Linear mixed model of ADIPOQ SNPs and posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) severity at 3- and 6-month follow up.

	Unadjusted			Adjusted
	β coefficient	95% CI for β	p-value	β coefficient	95% CI for β	p-value
		Range(CI)			Range(CI)
rs17300539
Time
Baseline	Ref			Ref
Month 3	−30.8	−34.1; −27.5	<.001	−30.8	−34.1; −27.5	<.001
Month 6	−38.6	−42.0; −35.2	<.001	−38.7	−42.0; −35.2	<.001
Genotype
GG	Ref			Ref
GA	2.9	−22.4; 28.2	.822	−2.2	−23.8; 19.4	.839
Time x Genotype
Month 3 & GA	−21.0	−49.9; 7.8	.152	−21.1	−49.9; 7.7	.152
Month 6 & GA	−12.7	−42.5; 17.0	.401	−12.6	−42.4; 17.1	.404
rs16861194
Time
Baseline	Ref			Ref
Month 3	−29.4	−33.8; −24.9	<.001	−29.4	−33.8; −24.9	<.001
Month 6	−38.2	−42.8; −33.7	<.001	−38.2	−42.8; −33.7	<.001
Genotype
AA	Ref			Ref
GA	1.8	−4.5; 8.0	.580	1.3	−4.0; 6.6	.622
GG	2.5	−11.4; 16.3	.728	2.1	−9.7; 13.9	.727
Time x Genotype
Month 3 & GA	−1.3	−8.3; 5.7	.714	−1.3	−8.3; 5.8	.725
Month 3 & GG	−7.8	−23.3; 7.8	.329	−7.8	−23.3; 7.8	.329
Month 6 & GA	−0.7	−8.0; 6.5	.844	−1.0	−8.2; 6.3	.797
Month 6 & GG	−0.9	−17.0; 15.1	.909	−0.9	−17.0; 15.1	.909
rs16861205
Time
Baseline	Ref			Ref
Month 3	−32.0	−36.2; −27.9	<.001	−32.0	−36.2; −27.9	<.001
Month 6	−39.5	−43.7; −35.2	<.001	−39.5	−43.7; −35.2	<.001
Genotype
GG	Ref			Ref
AG	−3.6	−9.9; 2.7	.266	−1.9	−7.4; 3.5	.483
AA	1.1	−14.0; 16.1	.890	1.0	−11.8; 13.8	.881
Time x Genotype
Month 3 & AG	4.6	−2.6; 11.8	.211	4.7	−2.5; 11.9	.204
Month 3 & AA	−10.3	−27.4; 6.8	.236	−10.3	−27.4; 6.8	.236
Month 6 & AG	4.5	−2.9; 11.8	.236	4.2	−3.2; 11.6	.263
Month 6 & AA	−15.3	−32.8; 2.2	.087	−15.3	−32.8; 2.2	.087
rs2241766
Time
Baseline	Ref			Ref
Month 3	−3.8	−34.2; −27.4	<.001	−30.8	−34.2; −27.4	<.001
Month 6	−38.5	−42.0; −35.0	<.001	−38.5	−42.0; −35.0	<.001
Genotype
TT	Ref			Ref
TG	4.2	−8.7; 17.1	.525	1.5	−9.6; 12.6	.793
Time x Genotype
Month 3 & TG	1.2	−13.6; 15.9	.876	1.2	−13.6; 15.9	.878
Month 6 & TG	−0.9	−16.0; 14.3	.910	−0.8	−15.9; 14.4	.919
rs6444174
Time
Baseline	Ref			Ref
Month 3	−31.4	−35.8; −27.0	<.001	−31.4	−35.8; −27.0	<.001
Month 6	−39.1	−43.6; −34.5	<.001	−39.2	−43.8; −34.6	<.001
Genotype
TT	Ref			Ref
TC	−3.4	−9.5; 2.7	.278	−2.5	−7.7; 2.8	.358
CC	−13.6	−25.2; −2.1	.021	−7.2	−17.1; 2.8	.158
Time x Genotype
Month 3 & TC	1.1	−5.8; 8.1	.751	1.1	−5.9; 8.0	.758
Month 3 & CC	2.2	−10.9; 15.3	.740	2.2	−10.9; 15.3	.744
Month 6 & TC	−1.6	−8.7; 5.6	.672	−1.4	−8.6; 5.8	.702
Month 6 & CC	11.2	−2.3; 24.8	.103	11.4	−2.1; 24.9	.099
rs822395
Time
Baseline	Ref			Ref
Month 3	−28.6	−34.1; −23.0	<.001	−28.6	−34.1; −23.0	<.001
Month 6	−37.5	−43.2; −31.7	<.001	−37.5	−43.2; −31.7	<.001
Genotype
CC	Ref			Ref
CA	0.2	−6.4; 6.7	.960	−0.2	−5.8; 5.4	.942
AA	−1.0	−9.5; 7.5	.816	−0.6	−7.8; 6.7	.873
Time x Genotype
Month 3 & CA	−6.2	−13.5; 1.2	.099	−6.2	−13.5; 1.2	.099
Month 3 & AA	1.6	−8.0; 11.1	.748	1.7	−7.9; 11.3	.726
Month 6 & CA	−2.5	−10.1; 5.2	.524	−2.5	−10.1; 5.2	.524
Month 6 & AA	0.3	−9.6; 10.2	.956	−0.2	−10.1; 9.8	.975

Notes: Adjusted for relationship status, lifetime trauma, depression, and previous rape event. Values in bold indicate p-value ≤ .025 (adjusted for multiple testing) Abbreviations: ADIPOQ, adiponectin gene; SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism; PTSS, posttraumatic stress symptom; β, coefficient, CI; confidence interval.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are being used to address additional study aims and cannot be shared publicly at this stage. The study collaborative team will review individual requests to access data.