Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies a Potential Genomic Risk Locus at Chr11q13.1 for Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

One of the most frequent perioperative complications in heart surgery is acute kidney damage (AKI). We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate genetic predispositions for AKI and the impact of genome-wide polygenic risk scores for coronary artery disease (GPSCAD) in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OP-CABG) in a South Asian population. Patients were categorized into three groups: (A) Patients undergoing OP-CABG who have normal renal function, (B) patients undergoing OP-CABG with pre-existing renal dysfunction, and (C) age-matched healthy controls. GWAS analysis was performed using logistic regression with age, gender, and top 10 principal components as covariates. Postoperative AKI was defined using KDIGO (The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) criteria. Among 746 patients in group A, 80(10.7%) developed AKI and of 255 patients in group B, 167(65.5%) exhibited deterioration of renal function. GWAS identified significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chr11q13.1 (rs11231649, p = 2.15E-08, rs60668438, p = 7.40E-08 and rs114977339, p = 8.98E-08). No significant GPS _CAD differences were observed between AKI and non-AKI groups in group B. This study highlights significant genetic associations with AKI on chr11q13.1 in patients undergoing OP-CABG without pre-existing renal dysfunction. GPS _CAD did not show an impact on AKI incidence. These findings warrant further validation in larger cohorts.