Abstract 18307: Causal Association Between Gut Microbiota Composition and the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Background: Considerable evidence has shown that alterations in gut microbiota composition are associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the causal associations remain largely unresolved. This study aims to reveal the causality between gut microbiota and AF. Method: We incorporated data from the largest genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of gut microbiota composition including a sample of 18,304 individuals and AF compared a total of 60,620 cases and 970,216 controls of European ancestry. A two-sample Mendelian randomization framework was designed to investigate the involvement of gut microbiota in AF. Results: Among all gut microbiota, four microbial taxa, namely Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group (OR: 1.077; 95% CI: 1.011- 1.148; P= 0.021), Rikenellaceae_ RC9_ gut_ group (OR: 1.047; 95% CI: 1.010- 1.086; P= 0.012), Catenibacterium (OR: 1.060; 95% CI: 1.002-1.122; P= 0.043), Victivallis (OR: 1.038; 95% CI: 1.001- 1.077; P= 0.044), and Erysipelatoclostridium (OR: 1.344; 95% CI:1.095-1.649; P= 0.014), were identified to be causally associated with the higher risk of AF. Besides, genetically predicted five microbial taxa, namely Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group (OR: 0.918; 95% CI: 0.865- 0.973; P= 0.004), Howardella (OR: 0.948; 95% CI: 0.910- 0.989; P= 0.012), Intestinibacter bartlettii (OR: 0.933; 95% CI: 0.879- 0.991; P= 0.024), Alloprevotella (OR: 0.942; 95% CI: 0.896-0.992; P= 0.022), Anaerostipes (OR: 0.922; 95% CI: 0.857-0.992; P= 0.030), Odoribacter (OR: 0.910; 95% CI: 0.831- 0.996; P= 0.041), Ruminococcus (gnavus group) (OR: 0.952; 95% CI: 0.908- 0.999; P= 0.044), and Ruminiclostridium 5 (OR: 0.678; 95% CI: 0.486- 0.947; P= 0.046), can prevent AF. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence of the causal effect of the gut microbiota on AF, highlighting causal microbial taxa. Our results may offer novel insights into gut microbiota-mediated mechanisms and interventions of AF.