Heritability of recurrent tonsillitis.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effects on the variance in the liability of recurrent tonsillitis.


METHODS
Retrospective questionnaire data from a population-based cohort.


METHODS
Population-based data from Norway.


METHODS
A total of 9479 Norwegian twins born between January 1, 1967, and December 31, 1979, identified through the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Main Outcome Measure Recurrent tonsillitis.


RESULTS
The lifetime prevalence of recurrent tonsillitis was 11.7% (95% confidence interval, 11.0%-12.3%), with a significant predominance of female cases. The tetrachoric correlations for monozygotic twins were 0.71 for males and 0.60 for females. For dizygotic twins, the correlations were 0.12 for males, 0.14 for females, and 0.24 for dizygotic pairs of opposite sex. Structural equation modeling indicated that genetic effects explained 62% of the variation in the liability of recurrent tonsillitis. The remaining variance was attributed to individual environmental effects. There was no evidence of sex-specific genetic effects on the liability of recurrent tonsillitis.


CONCLUSIONS
There is evidence for a substantial genetic predisposition for recurrent tonsillitis.
Kvestad
Ellen
E
Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. ellen.kvestad@fhi.no
Kvaerner
Kari Jorunn
KJ
Røysamb
Espen
E
Tambs
Kristian
K
Harris
Jennifer Ruth
JR
Magnus
Per
P
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*