Relationship between SCN5A gene H558R polymorphism and atrial fibrillation in Tibetan and Han nationalities at high altitude

This study aimed to explore the relationship between H558R polymorphism of the SCN5A gene and atrial fibrillation (AF) in Tibetan and Han nationalities at high altitude. A total of 50 Tibetan and 50 Han patients with AF at the same altitude (2260 m) were included. Meanwhile, the general clinical data of patients without AF (50 Tibetan and 50 Han) matched with the data of patients with AF were included during the same period. The blood samples of patients were collected to extract DNA. The DNA sequencing was performed by Xi’an Zhenpin Biotechnology Co., Ltd. The mutation loci of the sequence were located and identified by DNA sequencing. The general information, laboratory examination, color Doppler echocardiography, and genotypes and alleles of each group were analyzed. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for AF. The genotype and allele frequencies of the H558R locus of the SCN5A gene in the AF groups of Tibetan and Han nationalities were significantly different from those in the non-AF groups (P < .05). The genotype and allele frequency of the H558R locus of the SCN5A gene in the AF group of Tibetan nationalities were not significantly different from those in the AF group of Han nationalities (P > .05). The logistic regression analysis of the total population revealed that coronary heart disease, age, total cholesterol (TC), left atrial diameter, and G allele were independent risk factors for AF occurrence. The occurrence of AF in Tibetan and Han nationalities at high altitude is associated with the polymorphism of H558R locus of the SCN5A gene. The G allele is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of AF in Tibetan and Han nationalities.