Abstract
Background
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is caused by interactions between many factors across the life course, including genetics. A proportion of COPD may be due to reduced lung growth in childhood. We hypothesized that a polygenic risk score (PRS) for COPD is associated with lower lung function already in childhood and up to adulthood.
Methods
A weighted PRS was calculated based on the 82 association signals (p ≤ 5 × 10−8) revealed by the largest GWAS of airflow limitation (defined as COPD) to date. This PRS was tested in association with lung function measures (FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC) in subjects aged 4–50 years from 16 independent cohorts participating in the Chronic Airway Diseases Early Stratification (CADSET) Clinical Research Collaboration. Age-stratified meta-analyses were conducted combining the results from each cohort (n = 45,406). These findings were validated in subjects >50 years old.
Findings
We found significant associations between the PRS for airflow limitation and: (1) lower pre-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC from school age (7–10 years; β: −0.13 z-scores per one PRS z-score increase [–0.15, −0.11], q-value = 7.04 × 10−53) to adulthood (41–50 years; β: −0.16 [–0.19, −0.13], q-value = 1.31 × 10−24); and (2) lower FEV1 (from school age: 7–10 years; β: −0.07 [–0.09, −0.05], q-value = 1.65 × 10−9, to adulthood: 41–50 years; β: −0.17 [–0.20, −0.13], q-value = 4.48 x 10−20). No effect modification by smoking, sex, or a diagnosis of asthma was observed.
Interpretation
We provide evidence that a higher genetic risk for COPD is linked to lower lung function from childhood onwards.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is caused by interactions between many factors across the life course, including genetics. A proportion of COPD may be due to reduced lung growth in childhood. We hypothesized that a polygenic risk score (PRS) for COPD is associated with lower lung function already in childhood and up to adulthood.
Methods
A weighted PRS was calculated based on the 82 association signals (p ≤ 5 × 10−8) revealed by the largest GWAS of airflow limitation (defined as COPD) to date. This PRS was tested in association with lung function measures (FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC) in subjects aged 4–50 years from 16 independent cohorts participating in the Chronic Airway Diseases Early Stratification (CADSET) Clinical Research Collaboration. Age-stratified meta-analyses were conducted combining the results from each cohort (n = 45,406). These findings were validated in subjects >50 years old.
Findings
We found significant associations between the PRS for airflow limitation and: (1) lower pre-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC from school age (7–10 years; β: −0.13 z-scores per one PRS z-score increase [–0.15, −0.11], q-value = 7.04 × 10−53) to adulthood (41–50 years; β: −0.16 [–0.19, −0.13], q-value = 1.31 × 10−24); and (2) lower FEV1 (from school age: 7–10 years; β: −0.07 [–0.09, −0.05], q-value = 1.65 × 10−9, to adulthood: 41–50 years; β: −0.17 [–0.20, −0.13], q-value = 4.48 x 10−20). No effect modification by smoking, sex, or a diagnosis of asthma was observed.
Interpretation
We provide evidence that a higher genetic risk for COPD is linked to lower lung function from childhood onwards.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 102731 |
| Journal | EClinicalMedicine |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 12 Aug 2024 |
Keywords
- Polygenic risk score
- Genetics
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Lung function