Assessing effects of disease genes and gene-environment interactions: The case-spouse design and the counterfactual-control analysis
Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Journal Volume
60
Journal Issue
8
Pages
683-685
Date Issued
2006
Author(s)
Chang C.-H.
Abstract
Background: Assessing joint genetic and environmental contributions to disease risk is the central issue in many genetic epidemiological studies. To characterise the effects of a gene, the case-control study may suffer from fne problem of population stratification bias. For a late onset disease, recruiting control subjects into case-parents and case-sibling studies may be difficult. Methods: Two novel approaches to analysing case-spouse data are introduced: the 1:1 case-counterfactual-control analysis (genotype swapping between the case and their spouse) and the 1:5 case-counterfactual-controls analysis (allele swapping). Results: Both can be implemented using statistical packages that allow matched analysis (the conditional logistic regression) to yield valid estimates of the genotype relative risk, the gene-environment interaction parameter, the gene-sex interaction parameter, and the gene-environment-sex three factor interaction parameter (if desired), if certain assumptions are fulfilled. Conclusion: Because of the ease in recruiting subjects, and in collecting and analysing data, this approach makes a convenient tool for gene characterisation.
SDGs
Other Subjects
disease; gene; health risk; intersexual interaction; regression analysis; risk assessment; risk factor; allele; article; case control study; controlled study; environmental factor; female; gene interaction; genetic epidemiology; genotype; heredity; human; intermethod comparison; logistic regression analysis; male; parent; risk factor; sexual behavior; sibling; spouse; statistical analysis; stratification
Type
journal article