Med Genet. 2026 Jul 8;38(3):177-186. doi: 10.1515/medgen-2026-3008. eCollection 2026 Jul.
ABSTRACT
The sudden and often fatal onset of many cardiovascular disease (CVD) calls for improved risk prediction and personalized preventive strategies. Polygenic risk score (PRS) captures inherited susceptibility and may add precision to guideline-recommended clinical risk score. Given the spectrum of CVD, the utility of PRS varies from being a clinically meaningful diagnostic tool to a scientific instrument that brings light into the complex aetiologies. This review summarizes the current understanding of PRS in CVD. We discuss methodological strategies for its construction and outline clinical scenarios for PRS across major CVDs, including coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysms, cardiomyopathies, atrial fibrillation in the context of heart failure, and hypertension, highlighting their potential to enhance risk stratification beyond traditional factors. Finally, we outline current knowledge gaps that limit the clinical implementation of PRS.
PMID:42416867 | PMC:PMC13340638 | DOI:10.1515/medgen-2026-3008