TY - JOUR
T1 - Path analysis of familial resemblance of pulmonary function and cigarette smoking
AU - Cotch, M. F.
AU - Beaty, T. H.
AU - Cohen, B. H.
PY - 1990
Y1 - 1990
N2 - The techniques of path analysis were utilized to assess the relative importance of genetic factors, personal smoking behavior, and shared environment in the resemblance of pulmonary function among relatives using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data from nuclear families. Data on 1-s forced expiratory volume, FEV1 (adjusted for age, sex, race, height, and ascertainment group) and the number of cigarettes smoked per day were available on 978 individuals in 384 nuclear families residing in the Baltimore metropolitan area. All these individuals were seen twice between 1971 and 1981, with an average of 5 yr between visits. The direct effect of an individual's own smoking explained 10 and 3% of variation in adjusted FEV1 among parents and offspring, respectively. Shared environmental factors influencing personal smoking behavior accounted for 5% of the parent-offspring correlation in adjusted FEV1 and 3% of the sibling correlation in adjusted FEV1 in this sample. Undefined environmental factors that influenced an individual's smoking habits and could be shared among relatives were found to explain 19% of the familial correlations in smoking. Genetic heritability estimates ranged between 36 and 40%, with no evidence of intergenerational differences in the expression of apparent genetic control of pulmonary function.
AB - The techniques of path analysis were utilized to assess the relative importance of genetic factors, personal smoking behavior, and shared environment in the resemblance of pulmonary function among relatives using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data from nuclear families. Data on 1-s forced expiratory volume, FEV1 (adjusted for age, sex, race, height, and ascertainment group) and the number of cigarettes smoked per day were available on 978 individuals in 384 nuclear families residing in the Baltimore metropolitan area. All these individuals were seen twice between 1971 and 1981, with an average of 5 yr between visits. The direct effect of an individual's own smoking explained 10 and 3% of variation in adjusted FEV1 among parents and offspring, respectively. Shared environmental factors influencing personal smoking behavior accounted for 5% of the parent-offspring correlation in adjusted FEV1 and 3% of the sibling correlation in adjusted FEV1 in this sample. Undefined environmental factors that influenced an individual's smoking habits and could be shared among relatives were found to explain 19% of the familial correlations in smoking. Genetic heritability estimates ranged between 36 and 40%, with no evidence of intergenerational differences in the expression of apparent genetic control of pulmonary function.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0025609658&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0025609658&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1164/ajrccm/142.6_Pt_1.1337
DO - 10.1164/ajrccm/142.6_Pt_1.1337
M3 - Article
C2 - 2252251
AN - SCOPUS:0025609658
VL - 142
SP - 1337
EP - 1343
JO - American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
JF - American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
SN - 1073-449X
IS - 6
ER -