Leisure-time physical activity is associated with lower cardiovascular risk in carriers of the rs693 (APOB) and rs1799983 (NOS3) polymorphisms: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. To analyze the interaction between the rs693 (APOB gene) and rs1799983 (NOS3 gene) polymorphisms and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and cardiovascular risk (CVR) in adults. This population-based cross-sectional household study in Brazil evaluated CVR using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), categorized as low (< 5%) or intermediate-to-high (≥ 5%). LTPA was self-reported via a VIGITEL-based questionnaire and categorized per current guidelines. The rs693 and rs1799983 polymorphisms were genotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction with TaqMan® probes and classified as wild-type homozygous (TT and TT), heterozygous (CT and GT), and mutant homozygous (CC and GG), respectively. A combined genetic risk score was created, in which each genotype received a score from 0 to 2 according to the number of risk alleles. The values were summed, weighted by coefficients estimated in the sample, and subsequently categorized as low or high risk according to the median. Associations between genotypes, LTPA, and CVR were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Among 1,532 participants, 50.6% were male, 46.7% were aged 35–59 years, and 70.3% were physically inactive. Homozygosity for the variant allele was observed in 15.7% of participants for the rs693 polymorphism (CC) and 10.4% for the rs1799983 polymorphism (GG). Physically active individuals with the rs693 variant allele had a lower likelihood of elevated CVR (OR = 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1–0.7; p = 0.007) compared to wild-type homozygotes who were physically inactive. For rs1799983, wild-type homozygous and physically inactive individuals had a higher likelihood of elevated CVR (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2–3.9; p = 0.011) than physically active individuals with the same genotype. In crude analysis, individuals with high genetic risk but who were physically active had a lower likelihood of elevated CVR (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.2–0.9; p = 0.025) than the low genetic risk and physically active group. Thus, leisure-time physical activity modified the association between rs693 and rs1799983 polymorphisms and CVR, indicating a significant interaction between genetic factors and lifestyle.