TY - JOUR T1 - African ancestry, lung function and the effect of genetics JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 1582 LP - 1589 DO - 10.1183/09031936.00112114 VL - 45 IS - 6 AU - Ana Maria B. Menezes AU - Fernando C. Wehrmeister AU - Fernando P. Hartwig AU - Rogelio Perez-Padilla AU - Denise P. Gigante AU - Fernando C. Barros AU - Isabel O. Oliveira AU - Gustavo D. Ferreira AU - Bernardo L. Horta Y1 - 2015/06/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/45/6/1582.abstract N2 - African-Americans have smaller lung function compared with European-Americans. The aim of this study was to disentangle the contribution of genetics from other variables on lung function. A cohort was followed from birth to 30 years of age in Brazil. Several variables were collected: genomic analysis based on DNA; forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) obtained by spirometry; height measured by anthropometrists; and thorax circumference evaluated by photonic scanner. Crude and adjusted linear regression models were calculated according to African ancestry. The sample comprised 2869 participants out of 3701 members of the cohort. Males with higher African ancestry by DNA analysis had a smaller FEV1 (−0.13 L, 95% CI −0.23– −0.03 L) and FVC (−0.21 L, 95% CI −0.32– −0.09 L) compared with those with less African ancestry, having accounted for height, sitting to standing height ratio and other confounders. Similar effects were seen in females. After adjustment, ancestry remained significantly associated with lung function, but the large effect of adjustment for confounding among males (but not females) does not allow us to exclude the possibility that residual confounding may still account for these findings. Smaller lung function is related to African ancestry but adjustments for confounders reduced the effect sizes http://ow.ly/Iq0Ve ER -