In this master's thesis, we did not find a definite interaction between exercise and genes in terms of the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Thus, we cannot conclude that exercise reduces the genetic risk of suffering a heart attack.

On the other hand, the analyzes show a strong connection between physical activity and a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease. When we examined 50 genetic variants that have previously been linked to increased cardiovascular risk, we were also able to confirm a link between several of these and future heart disease. However, we found no clear signs that the level of physical activity affects the effect of these known risk genes.

The project analyzes data from over 41,000 women and men who participated in the Health Survey in Nord-Trøndelag between 2006 and 2008. More than 1,300 of them had a heart attack or other acute coronary artery disease during the nine years we followed them. To investigate the interaction between self-reported exercise level, genes and heart risk, we used various advanced mathematical models.

Read the full Master's thesis:
Statistical Analysis of Interaction Effects Between Environmental and Genetic Factors