Pleiotropic effects on cardiovascular risk factors within and between the fourth and sixth decades of life: Implications for genotype × age interactions
2003

Genetic Interactions Affecting Cardiovascular Risk Factors Across Decades

Sample size: 393 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Havill LM, Mahaney MC

Primary Institution: Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research

Hypothesis

Do the same genes influence cardiovascular risk factors in the 4th and 6th decades of life?

Conclusion

The study found that different genes influence systolic blood pressure across decades, while total cholesterol and body weight are influenced by the same genes in both decades.

Supporting Evidence

  • Genetic correlations between traits differ between the 4th and 6th decades of life.
  • Additive genetic variance in systolic blood pressure is influenced by different genes in the two decades.
  • Total cholesterol and body weight are influenced by the same genes across both decades.

Takeaway

This study looked at how genes affect heart health at different ages and found that some genes work differently as people get older.

Methodology

The study used data from the Framingham Heart Study to analyze genetic influences on cardiovascular risk factors across two age groups.

Limitations

The study's conclusions about total cholesterol are less certain due to large standard errors in the estimates.

Participant Demographics

Participants were from the Original and Offspring cohorts of the Framingham Heart Study, measured at ages 30-39 and 50-59.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.009

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2156-4-S1-S54

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