biostudies-literatureTannemann NBundesministerium für Bildung und ForschungHeinz Nixdorf StiftungUniversity of Duisburg-EssenDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftGE Imatron Inc., South San Francisco, CA and Sarstedt AG &amp; Co.e0303357https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11093374biostudies-literatureUnknown19(5)Short telomeres are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate, if genetically determined telomere-length effects CVD-risk in the Heinz-Nixdorf-Recall study (HNRS) population. We selected 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with telomere-length (p<10-8) from the literature and after exclusion 9 SNPs were included in the analyses. Additionally, a genetic risk score (GRS) using these 9 SNPs was calculated. Incident CVD was defined as fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary death. We included 3874 HNRS participants with available genetic data and had no known history of CVD at baseline. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to test the association between the SNPs/GRS and incident CVD-risk adjusting for common CVD riskPloS oneGenetic polymorphisms affecting telomere length and their association with cardiovascular disease in the Heinz-Nixdorf-Recall study.PMC11093374ER 155/6-1PE 2309/2-1Jockel KHErbel RPechlivanis SNothen MMTannemann NfalseGenetic polymorphisms affecting telomere length and their association with cardiovascular disease in the Heinz-Nixdorf-Recall study.Short telomeres are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate, if genetically determined telomere-length effects CVD-risk in the Heinz-Nixdorf-Recall study (HNRS) population. We selected 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with telomere-length (p<10-8) from the literature and after exclusion 9 SNPs were included in the analyses. Additionally, a genetic risk score (GRS) using these 9 SNPs was calculated. Incident CVD was defined as fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary death. We included 3874 HNRS participants with available genetic data and had no known history of CVD at baseline. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to test the association between the SNPs/GRS and incident CVD-risk adjusting for common CVD risk2024-01-01T00:00:00Z20242026-06-02T06:02:53.244Z2026-04-15T03:09:53.372ZS-EPMC110933743874375710.1371/journal.pone.0303357