Genetic Factors in Childhood Asthma and Allergy in African American Children
Author Information
Author(s): Bonnie R Joubert, David M Reif, Stephen W Edwards, Kevin A Leiner, Edward E Hudgens, Peter Egeghy, Jane E Gallagher, Elaine Cohen Hubal
Primary Institution: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Hypothesis
Can genetic variations contribute to the risk of asthma and allergy in African American children?
Conclusion
Genetic variations associated with asthma in other populations also increase the risk of asthma in African American children.
Supporting Evidence
- SNPs in GSTM1, MS4A2, and GSTP1 were significantly associated with asthma.
- The chromosome 11 haplotype CTACGAGGCC was linked to a nearly five-fold increase in asthma odds.
- The genetic risk score was significantly associated with higher odds of asthma.
Takeaway
Some kids have genes that make them more likely to get asthma, especially if they are African American and live in cities.
Methodology
The study evaluated 41 SNPs in 141 African American children for associations with asthma and allergy traits.
Potential Biases
Self-reported ethnicity may introduce bias in genetic association results.
Limitations
The sample size was small, limiting the ability to detect significant associations and generalize findings.
Participant Demographics
141 African American children aged 9-13, with 44.7% female and 36.2% having a BMI of 25 or higher.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
1.21, 2.13
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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