Objective:

To investigate genetic correlations and potential causal relationships between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), enhancing understanding of shared genetic mechanisms and improving recognition and treatment of OSA in patients with CVDs.

Key Findings:

• Strong genetic correlations identified between OSA and coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and atrial fibrillation (AF).
• 15 shared loci between OSA and CAD, 25 between OSA and MI, and 7 between OSA and HF were identified, indicating significant genetic overlap.
• Atrial fibrillation was found to be a causal factor for OSA, while OSA was a causal factor for heart failure.

Interpretation:

The study suggests significant genetic links between OSA and multiple cardiovascular disorders, highlighting the need for further research into shared genetic mechanisms and their implications for clinical practice.

Limitations:

• Potential confounding factors in Mendelian randomization due to shared genetic aetiology may affect the validity of the findings.
• Focus on European ancestry may limit generalizability of findings to other populations.

Conclusion:

Further research is necessary to explore the genetic mechanisms linking OSA and CVDs, which could improve recognition and treatment strategies.