Familial aggregation of age-related macular degeneration in the Utah population.
We examined familial aggregation and risk of age-related macular degeneration in the Utah population using a population-based case-control study. Over one million unique patient records were searched within the University of Utah Health Sciences Center and the Utah Population Database (UPDB), identifying 4764 patients with AMD. Specialized kinship analysis software was used to test for familial aggregation of disease, estimate the magnitude of familial risks, and identify families at high risk for disease. The population-attributable risk (PAR) for AMD was calculated to be 0.34. Recurrence risks in relatives indicate increased relative risks in siblings (2.95), first cousins (1.29), second cousins (1.13), and parents (5.66) of affected cases. There were 16 extended large families with AMD identified for potential use in genetic studies. Each family had five or more living affected members. The familial aggregation of AMD shown in this study exemplifies the merit of the UPDB and supports recent research demonstrating significant genetic contribution to disease development and progression.
Luo
Ling
L
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
Harmon
Jennifer
J
Yang
Xian
X
Chen
Haoyu
H
Patel
Shrena
S
Mineau
Geraldine
G
Yang
Zhenglin
Z
Constantine
Ryan
R
Buehler
Jeanette
J
Kaminoh
Yuuki
Y
Ma
Xiang
X
Wong
Tien Y
TY
Zhang
Maonian
M
Zhang
Kang
K
D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D015785:Eye Diseases, Hereditary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology