Design of a family study among high-risk Caribbean Hispanics: the Northern Manhattan Family Study.
Stroke continues to kill disproportionately more Blacks and Hispanics than Whites in the United States. Racial/ethnic variations in the incidence of stroke and prevalence of stroke risk factors are probably explained by both genetic and environmental influences. Family studies can help identify genetic predisposition to stroke and potential stroke precursors. Few studies have evaluated the heritability of these stroke risk factors among non-White populations, and none have focused on Caribbean Hispanic populations. The aim of the Northern Manhattan Family Study (NOMAFS) is to investigate the gene-environment interaction of stroke risk factors among Caribbean Hispanics. The unique recruitment and methodologic approaches used in this study are relevant to the design and conduct of genetic aggregation studies to investigate complex genetic disorders in non-White populations. The aim of this paper is to describe the NOMAFS and report enrollment and characteristics of the participants. The NOMAFS will provide a data resource for the exploration of the genetic determinants of highly heritable stroke precursor phenotypes that are less complex than the stroke phenotype. Understanding the gene environment interaction is the critical next step toward the development of new and unique approaches to disease prevention and interventions.
Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Ralph L
RL
Sacco
Edison A
EA
Sabala
Tanja
T
Rundek
Suh-Hang Hank
SH
Juo
Jinaping Sam
JS
Huang
Marco
M
DiTullio
Shunichi
S
Homma
Katihurka
K
Almonte
Carlos García
CG
Lithgow
Bernadette
B
Boden-Albala
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000235:genetics*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014900:West Indies