Discovering Novel Biochemical and Genetic Markers for Coronary Heart Disease in Qatari Individuals: The Initiative Qatar Cardiovascular Biorepository

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe the creation and challenge of a DNA and plasma biorepository (Qatar Cardiovascular Biorepository) with linkage to the electronic health record of cardiovascular risk factors to facilitate discovery of novel genetic and proteomic biomarkers for coronary heart disease in Qatari individuals. METHODS: A prospective case–control study was conducted between October 2013 and February 2018. CHD was defined as a history of an acute coronary syndrome (myocardial infarction [MI]/unstable angina) or coronary revascularization. Controls were identified from blood donors who had no history of coronary heart diesase. After informed consent, blood samples were obtained for DNA and plasma. Demographic, laboratory, and clinical variables were derived from the electronic medical record, and information regarding history of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors was collected from surveys. Challenges in establishing the biorepository were noted, and processes to promote use of the biorepository by Qatari investigators were put in place. RESULTS: During the study period, 2671 individuals were approached; of them, 2087 participants were recruited (1029 patients and 1058 controls). Relevant risk factors were ascertained from the electronic health record and surveys. The mean age was 49 ± 16 years, with 61% males. Challenges included setting up the infrastructure for qatar cardiovascular biorepository, developing an informed consent document in Arabic/English, and meeting target recruitment goals. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking was 41%, 44.5%, 40%, and 19%, respectively. History of myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass surgery was 55%, 68%, and 17%, respectively, among patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study addresses the challenges in setting up qatar cardiovascular biorepository, the first cardiovascular genomics biorepository in the Arab Middle Eastern region. QCBio is a unique resource for identifying genetic susceptibility variants and novel circulating markers for coronary heart disease in Qatari adults and enables individualized assessment of risk for coronary heart disease.