Heritability of Self-Reported Asthma and Allergy: A Study in Adult Dutch Twins, Siblings and Parents

Abstract

The present study assessed the prevalence of asthma and allergy, and estimated the importance of genetic and environmental influences on asthma and allergy liability and their association. Longitudinal data on self-reported, doctor-diagnosed asthma and allergy were collected in over 14,000 individuals registered with the Netherlands Twin Register. Structural equation modeling was used for univariate and bivariate genetic analyses on data from twins, their siblings, and parents. Results showed no sex, age, and minimal birth cohort effects for asthma prevalence (11.8%). For allergy, prevalence was higher in women (19.8%) than in men (13.9%). Allergy prevalence at ages 22, 23, and 24 years increased from the 1970 to the 1980 birth cohort. The prevalence of allergy, but not of asthma, was higher in nontwin siblings than in twins. No assortative mating was observed. High (broad-sense) heritabilities were found for asthma (75%) and allergy (66%), with evidence for nonadditive genetic effects in asthma. The association between asthma and allergy (correlation = .65) was largely due to common genes (70%). No sex differences in genetic architecture were found. In conclusion, the prevalence of allergy but not of asthma increased in recent years. Individual differences in the liability to asthma, allergy and their co-occurrence are for a large part accounted for by differences in genetic background. Nonadditive gene action is important, which may have consequences for gene hunting strategies.

Factors Associated with Asthma Prevalence among Racial and Ethnic Groups—United States, 2009–2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

“…Multiple factors play a role in the development of asthma and the exacerbation of asthma symptoms. It is believed that genetic predisposition, exposure to environmental factors, and significant gene-environment interactions may influence development of asthma and exacerbation of the symptoms (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Genetic predisposition may lead to the development of asthma and allergies (e.g., atopic dermatitis [eczema] or allergic rhinitis [hay fever]) (6,8).…”

“…It is believed that genetic predisposition, exposure to environmental factors, and significant gene-environment interactions may influence development of asthma and exacerbation of the symptoms (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Genetic predisposition may lead to the development of asthma and allergies (e.g., atopic dermatitis [eczema] or allergic rhinitis [hay fever]) (6,8). However, the genotype of asthma is complex (10,11) and a positive family history of asthma does not always predict the disease's development (9).…”

“…Some of these factors are modifiable (e.g., education, income, health insurance status, smoking, obesity, and co-morbid conditions) (14,(18)(19)(20)21), while some are not (e.g., heredity, age, sex, race, and ethnicity) (8,18,19). Asthma disproportionately affects certain demographic groups, and the disproportionate impact has persisted over time (2)(3)(4).…”

“…Also, asthma prevalence is higher among blacks, American Indians or Alaska Natives (AI/AN), persons of multiple race, and lower among Asian and Hispanics than whites (2-4, 18, 19). mites, cockroaches, rodents, animal allergens, ETS, and other air pollutants) may account for some of the racial and ethnic differences in asthma prevalence (8,12,14,18,20). Even though previous studies have identified the potential predictors of asthma, specific information about the predictive factors among racial and ethnic groups has been limited.…”

Exploration of the Genetic Epidemiology of Asthma: a review, with a Focus on Prevalence in Children and Adolescents in the Caribbean

“…It has been observed that asthma is one of the most serious allergic diseases and the most common child and adolescent disease in developed countries (13 susceptibility genes, their locations and possible correlations with asthma in specific populations. Different genes may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma, explaining the possibility of different outcomes amongst affected individuals (14,15). The complexity of the immunological network involved in the demonstration of the complete linkage of genes and asthma remain a barrier in understanding the aetiology, pathophysiology and management of asthma (16).…”