Genetic and environmental influences on forced expiratory volume in midlife: a cross-cultural replication.
Previous research has shown that forced expiratory volume (FEV) is a useful predictor of remaining life in older adults. The present analyses are an attempt to replicate results from a study of Swedish twins which demonstrated substantial heritability of FEV with a sample of middle-aged Russian adult twins. Data were collected from 116 pairs of Russian twins (monozygote = 71, dizygotic = 45, mean age = 40.9 years). Phenotypic correlations between FEV, age, gender, height, and cigarette consumption (in pack years) were all significant, ranging from -.72 to .31. After the effects of age, gender, height, and smoking were partialled out of FEV, quantitative genetic analyses were conducted. Shared environmental effects were significant, accounting for 47% of the variance in FEV. Genetic effects, which accounted for about 28% of the variance, could be dropped from the model without a significant decrease in the fit. These results are discussed in relation to previous research conducted in other countries.
Whitfield
K E
KE
Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.
Grant
J
J
Ravich-Scherbo
I
I
Marytuina
T
T
Iboutolina
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D012426:Russia; D013548:Sweden; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic