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African ancestry, lung function associated in Puerto Rican children

Genetic factors, environmental or lifestyle factors, or both correlated with African ancestry and may influence lung function in Puerto Rican children, according to study results.

In a cross-sectional case-control study of 943 Puerto Rican children living in San Juan, Puerto Rico, (n=560) and Hartford, Conn., (n=383), researchers sought to determine whether a greater proportion of African ancestry is associated with lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)  and forced vital capacity (FVC) independent of socioeconomic, health care access and environmental factors. Children were aged 6 to 14 years, and the study included those with asthma (n=520) and a control group without asthma (n=423).

Researchers analyzed the best measurements of the participants’ FEV1 and FVC levels using spirometry at baseline and then 15 minutes later after administering 200 mcg inhaled albuterol to participants. Genotyping also was conducted in DNA from the participants to determine the percentage of African racial ancestry.

After adjustments for household income and other covariates, including health care and environmental factors, researchers found that each 20% incremental change in African ancestry was significantly associated with lower prebronchodilator FEV1 (–105 mL; 95% CI, –159 to –51 mL) and FVC (–133 mL; 95% CI, –197 to –69 mL) in the combined cohort of asthma participants. They found similar results in postbronchodilator FEV1 (–152 mL; 95% CI, –210 to –94 mL) and FVC (–145 mL; 95% CI, –211 to –79 mL) for the cohort.

Among the control group, researchers noted similar but weaker associations for prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator FEV1 for each 20% incremental change in African ancestry.

“ … African ancestry is associated with lower FEV1 and FVC in Puerto Rican children independently of [socioeconomic status] and health care access, [environmental tobacco smoke] and allergen exposure, and vitamin D level,” researchers concluded. “Genetic variants, early-life environmental/lifestyle factors, or both correlated with African ancestry might influence lung development and growth during childhood in Puerto Rican [children].”