Age-stratified heritability estimation in the Framingham Heart Study families

BMC Genet. 2003 Dec 31;4 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S32. doi: 10.1186/1471-2156-4-S1-S32.

Abstract

The Framingham Heart Study provides a unique source of longitudinal family data related to CVD risk factors. Age-stratified heritability estimates were obtained over three age groups (31-49 years, 50-60 years, and 61-79 years), reflecting the longitudinal nature of the data, for four quantitative traits. Age-adjusted heritability estimates were obtained at a single common time point for the same four quantitative traits. The importance of these groups is that they consist of the same individuals. The highest age-stratified heritability estimate (h2 = 0.88 (+/- 0.06)) was for height in the model adjusting for gender over all three age groups. SBP gave the lowest heritability estimate (h2 = 0.15 (+/- 0.11)) for the 70 age group in the model adjusting for gender, height, BMI, smoker, and drinker. BMI had slightly higher estimates (h2 = 0.64 (+/- 0.11)) in the 40 age group than previously published. The highest age-adjusted heritability estimate (h2 = 0.90 (+/- 0.06)) was for height in the model adjusting for gender. SBP gave the lowest heritability estimate (h2 = 0.38 (+/- 0.09)) for unadjusted model. These results indicate that some common, complex traits may vary little in their genetic architecture over time and suggest that a common set of genes may be contributing to observed variation for these longitudinally collected phenotypes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Adult Children
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Blood Pressure / genetics
  • Body Height / genetics
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight / genetics
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / genetics
  • Cohort Studies
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • Genetics, Population
  • Humans
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable*
  • Risk Factors
  • Systole