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The Korean Twin Registry — Methods, Current Stage, and Interim Results

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Joohon Sung ,
Soo-Hun Cho ,
Sung-Il Cho ,
David L. Duffy ,
Jin-Hee Kim ,
Ho Kim ,
Kyung Sook Park  and
Sue Kyung Park
Joohon Sung*
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, Kangwon National University, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Kunkook University, Chungju, Koreasungjohn@kangwon.ac.kr
Soo-Hun Cho
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Kunkook University, Chungju, Korea
Sung-Il Cho
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Seoul National University School of Public Health, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Kunkook University, Chungju, Korea
David L. Duffy
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Unit,The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Preventive Medicine, Kunkook University, Chungju, Korea
Jin-Hee Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, Kangwon National University, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Kunkook University, Chungju, Korea
Ho Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Seoul National University School of Public Health, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Kunkook University, Chungju, Korea
Kyung Sook Park
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Kunkook University, Chungju, Korea
Sue Kyung Park
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Kunkook University, Chungju, Korea
*
*Address for correspondence: Joohon Sung, Department of Preventive Medicine, Kangwon National University, 192–1 Hyoja2-Dong, Chuncheon, Kangwon-Do, Korea, 200–701.

Abstract

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The Korean Twin Registry is the first nationwide twin study in Korea. We compiled 154,783 twin pairs from existing nationwide data sources, mainly from address and national health insurance data. The coverage of this registry was almost complete for the twins born since 1970, but less complete as age increased, so that there were only 990 pairs who were born before 1930. The twins' health examination (N = 54,390 persons) and questionnaire (N = 44,546 persons) results were incorporated into the registry, yielding 12,894 and 9074 concordantly informative pairs. Morbidity and mortality outcomes have been followed up since 1990, for most diseases. For preliminary analysis of complex diseases, we selected ventricular septal defects (VSD) in young twins, stomach and colorectal cancers in adult twins. We identified 353 VSDs, 284 stomach cancers, and 116 colorectal cancers among twins. The prevalence rates of cancers, but not that of VSD, were lower in twins than those in population. The difference in the cancer prevalence was marked for twins born before 1926, implying some degree of selection. Like-sex (LS) twins showed familial recurrence risks (λLS) of 41.2 for VSD and 22.4 for colorectal cancers, and 1.74 for stomach cancers. For opposite-sex (OS) twins, we could estimate λOS of 19.8 for VSD only. These results were compatible with previous studies for VSD and colorectal cancers, but not for stomach cancers. Despite the strength in size, availability of health outcomes, and some lifestyle and basic laboratory data, we need accurate zygosity information to improve the validity of the results.

Type
Articles/Korea
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 5 , Issue 5 , 01 October 2002 , pp. 394 - 400
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002