Sex differences in heritability of neck pain.
Experimental studies have suggested biological factors as a possible explanation for gender disparities in perception of pain. Recently, heritability of liability to neck pain (NP) has been found to be statistically significantly larger in women compared to men. However, no studies have been conducted to determine whether the sex differences in heritability of NP are due to sex-specific genetic factors. Data on lifetime prevalence of NP from a population-based cross-sectional survey of 33,794 Danish twins were collected and age-stratified univariate biometrical modeling using sex-limitation models was performed based on 10,605 dizygotic (DZ) twins of opposite sex to estimate the qualitative sex differences. In a full sex-limitation model the genetic component in females were higher than in males, but the genetic and the shared environmental correlations were equal to what is normally assumed between same-sex DZ twins. A 'no-sex-effects' model showed the overall best model fit which confirms absence of sex-related gene interaction. The age-stratified sex-limitation models showed similar results. Thus, there is no evidence for a sex-specific genetic influence in the liability of heritability of NP.
Fejer
René
R
Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. rfejer@health.sdu.dk
Hartvigsen
Jan
J
Kyvik
Kirsten Ohm
KO
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics*; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics*