Causal association between alcohol consumption and post-stroke cognitive impairment based on Mendelian randomization study

ObjectiveTo explore the causal relationship between alcohol consumption and post-stroke cognitive impairment(PSCI) based on Mendelian.

MethodsBased on Mendelian randomization inverse-variance weighted(IVW), the causal relationship between drinking-related exposure factors and PSCI was evaluated using instrumental variables such as ALDH2 genotypes, and two-classification logistics analysis was used to test the significance of correlation.

ResultsThe differences of the effects of the education level, flush after drinking and history of alcohol consumption on PSCI were statistically significant(P < 0.05).The concentration and purity of DNA in whole blood of patients were(54.88±20.59)ng/μL and(1.7-1.9), respectively.The genotype was determined by the polymorphism of ALDH2 rs671 site, and the G mutated to A.There were 76 cases of wild GG type, 52 cases of mutant heterozygous AG type and 3 cases of mutant pure and AA type, the results of quantitative analysis of Hardy-Weinberg genetic balance showed that this gene locus was stable(P>0.05).The causality between PSCI and history of alcohol consumption was β_{IVW alcohol consumption history}=0.606(OR=3.334, 95%CI: 3.038-3.653), and the causality between PSCI and blush after alcohol consumption was β_{IVW blush after drinking}=0.320(OR=4.908, 95%CI: 4.739-6.475).

ConclusionsThere is a positive causality between PSCI, and history of alcohol consumption and blush after drinking in patients with ischemic stroke before admission.