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

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.