Linkage Consistency in the Framingham Heart Study
Author Information
Author(s): Larry D Atwood, Nancy L Heard-Costa, L Adrienne Cupples, Daniel Levy
Primary Institution: Boston University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Can we test for consistency of linkage results within a study across time using the Framingham Heart Study data?
Conclusion
The low consistency between exams and methods may help explain the lack of replication between studies in this field.
Supporting Evidence
- The regression-based approach showed higher consistency in linkage results across exams.
- VC analysis found almost three times as many significant regions as regression-based linkage.
- Correlation between LOD scores from GENEHUNTER and MERLIN was at least 0.993 for all traits examined.
Takeaway
This study looked at how consistent genetic findings are over time in a big heart study. It found that results can change a lot, which might be why other studies don't always agree.
Methodology
The study used both variance components and regression-based linkage analysis on quantitative traits from the Framingham Heart Study.
Potential Biases
Dropout bias may occur as older individuals are more likely to leave the study due to death.
Limitations
The study's consistency measure may not be valid due to the distribution of LOD scores, and sample size variations could affect results.
Participant Demographics
The study involved 2604 individuals from 330 families in the Framingham Heart Study.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.005
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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