Association between born by caesarian section and anxiety, self-harm: a gene-environment interaction study using UK Biobank data

Abstract Background Limited efforts have been paid to explore the underlying genetic mechanisms of born by caesarian section (CS) affecting the risks of adult anxiety and self-harm. Methods Using UK Biobank cohort, logistic regression model was first applied to evaluate the associations of adult anxiety and self-harm with born by CS. Using born by CS as exposure variables, genome-wide by environment interaction study (GWEIS) was then applied by PLINK2.0 to identify associated genes interacting with born by CS for anxiety and self-harm. Results In the observational study, significant associations were observed between born by CS and anxiety (odds ratio (OR) = 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13–1.37; P = 1.19 × 10− 4), and self-harm (OR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07–1.29; P = 3.62 × 10− 3). GWEIS revealed multiple significant gene interacted with born by CS at P-value < 5.0 × 10− 8 for anxiety, such as DKK2 (rs13137764, P = 1.24 × 10− 9) and ATXN1 (rs62389045, P = 4.38 × 10− 8). For self-harm, significant gene-environment interactions of born by CS on self-harm were detected, such as ALDH1A2 (rs77828167, P = 1.62 × 10− 8) and DAB1 (rs116124269, P = 3.20 × 10− 8). Conclusion Our results suggested that born by CS was associated with the risk of adult anxiety and self-harm. We also discovered some genes interacted with born by CS might influence the risk of anxiety and self-harm, which may provide novel clues for the pathogenesis of those mental disorders.