Authors: Thomsen, S. F.¹; Ulrik, C. S.²; Kyvik, K. O.³; Sørensen, T. I. A.⁴; Posthuma, D.⁵; Skadhauge, L. R.⁶; Steffensen, I.⁷; Backer, V.¹

Source: Allergy, Volume 62, Number 10, October 2007 , pp. 1199-1204(6)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Background: 

Obesity is linked to asthma in a yet poorly understood manner. We examined the relationship between obesity and asthma in a population-based sample of twins. Methods: 

From the cohorts born between 1953 and 1982, who were enrolled in The Danish Twin Registry, a total of 29 183 twin individuals participated in a nationwide questionnaire study, where data on height, weight and asthma were collected. Latent factor models of genetic and environmental effects were fitted using maximum likelihood methods. Results: 

The age-adjusted risk of asthma was increased both in obese females, OR = 1.96 (1.45-2.64), P ≤ 0.001 and in obese males, OR = 1.59 (1.08-2.33), P = 0.02. According to best-fitting models, the heritability for obesity was 81% in males and 92% in females, whereas the heritability for asthma was 78% and 68% in males and females respectively. The age-adjusted genetic liabilities to obesity and asthma were significantly correlated only in females, r = 0.28 (0.16-0.38). Conclusions: 

Obese subjects have an increased risk for asthma, which in females seems partly because of common genes.

Keywords: asthma; environment; genetics; obesity; twin study

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01480.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen 2: Department of Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen 3: The Danish Twin Registry, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 4: Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark 5: Department of Biological Psychology, Free University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 6: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Haderslev Hospital, Haderslev 7: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

Publication date: 2007-10-01

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