The genetic correlations between alcohol consumption and 212 other health and behavioural traits were calculated using GWAS summary statistics and LD score regression34 implemented in the online software LD Hub.36 After correction for multiple testing, 11 traits had a significant genetic correlation (P<0.05) with alcohol consumption (Figure 3). Smoking status had the strongest positive genetic correlation (rG) with alcohol consumption (rG=0.40, s.e.=0.06, P=1.4 × 10−10) followed by high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (rG=0.28, s.e.=0.05, P=6.9 × 10−10). Significant negative genetic correlations were observed for overweight (rG=−0.19, s.e.=0.05, P=5.8 × 10−5) and a range of other anthropometric traits pertaining to body mass index (BMI) and obesity, such as obesity class 2 (rG=−0.20, s.e.=0.06, P=3 × 10−4) that categorizes severely obese individuals with a BMI ranging from 35.0 to 39.9 kg/m2.
