Genetics of cardiovascular diseases: lessons learned from a decade of genomics research in Iceland

In the past 10 years, large-scale genotyping has led to discoveries of sequence variants that confer the risk of many common and complex diseases. Due to pioneering work done, in large part, at deCODE genetics in Reykjavik, discoveries from Iceland have contributed substantially to key advances in population genetics. In cardiovascular medicine, a number of discoveries have been made, uncovering sequence variants that are associated with disorders such as coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, sick sinus syndrome, peripheral vascular disease, aortic aneurysm, and ischemic stroke. Thus, a wealth of genetic data has been accumulated in cardiology and has enhanced our understanding of a number of diseases. In many cases, these findings offer new mechanistic clues into the pathophysiology of complex cardiovascular diseases and may point toward novel therapeutic approaches in drug therapy. The next important step is to begin to transform these findings into practical clinical knowledge with the aim of improving the delivery of cardiovascular health care.