BACKGROUND: A recent meta-analysis suggested that racial/ethnic status is not a major determinant of willingness to participate in observational studies or treatment trials. However, little is known about the predictors of enrollment in family-based observational genetic studies. We tested the hypothesis that proband race/ethnicity is a significant predictor of enrolling a pedigree. METHODS: Univariable and multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to determine proband characteristics that predict DNA donation from both members of an affected sibling pair. A total of 619 adult male and female probands with first-time or recurrent ischemic stroke and a positive sibling history of stroke enrolled across 53 hospitals and clinics in the United States and Canada into the Siblings with Ischemic Stroke Study, a family-based prospective genomics study. RESULTS: In univariable analysis, probands with siblings who agreed to a blood draw for DNA analyses were more likely to be male and less likely to be nonwhite. In multivariable analysis, only race/ethnicity was significantly associated with likelihood of a proband's having a sibling who agreed to a blood draw. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to observational studies that are not family based, the willingness of family members to participate in observational genetics studies may be influenced by race/ethnicity. This result reinforces the need for improving methods for recruiting diverse populations into genetic studies of stroke.
BACKGROUND: A recent meta-analysis suggested that racial/ethnic status is not a major determinant of willingness to participate in observational studies or treatment trials. However, little is known about the predictors of enrollment in family-based observational genetic studies. We tested the hypothesis that proband race/ethnicity is a significant predictor of enrolling a pedigree. METHODS: Univariable and multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to determine proband characteristics that predict DNA donation from both members of an affected sibling pair. A total of 619 adult male and female probands with first-time or recurrent ischemic stroke and a positive sibling history of stroke enrolled across 53 hospitals and clinics in the United States and Canada into the Siblings with Ischemic Stroke Study, a family-based prospective genomics study. RESULTS: In univariable analysis, probands with siblings who agreed to a blood draw for DNA analyses were more likely to be male and less likely to be nonwhite. In multivariable analysis, only race/ethnicity was significantly associated with likelihood of a proband's having a sibling who agreed to a blood draw. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to observational studies that are not family based, the willingness of family members to participate in observational genetics studies may be influenced by race/ethnicity. This result reinforces the need for improving methods for recruiting diverse populations into genetic studies of stroke.
Authors: James F Meschia; Thomas G Brott; Robert D Brown; Richard Crook; Bradford B Worrall; Brett Kissela; W Mark Brown; Stephen S Rich; L Douglas Case; E Whitney Evans; Stephen Hague; Andrew Singleton; John Hardy Journal: Ann Neurol Date: 2005-09 Impact factor: 10.422
Authors: A Helgadottir; S Gretarsdottir; D St Clair; A Manolescu; J Cheung; G Thorleifsson; A Pasdar; S F A Grant; L J Whalley; H Hakonarson; U Thorsteinsdottir; A Kong; J Gulcher; K Stefansson; M J MacLeod Journal: Am J Hum Genet Date: 2005-01-07 Impact factor: 11.025
Authors: Mar Matarín; W Mark Brown; Sonja Scholz; Javier Simón-Sánchez; Hon-Chung Fung; Dena Hernandez; J Raphael Gibbs; Fabienne Wavrant De Vrieze; Cynthia Crews; Angela Britton; Carl D Langefeld; Thomas G Brott; Robert D Brown; Bradford B Worrall; Michael Frankel; Scott Silliman; L Douglas Case; Andrew Singleton; John A Hardy; Stephen S Rich; James F Meschia Journal: Lancet Neurol Date: 2007-05 Impact factor: 44.182
Authors: James F Meschia; Robert D Brown; Thomas G Brott; Felix E Chukwudelunzu; John Hardy; Stephen S Rich Journal: BMC Med Genet Date: 2002-02-12 Impact factor: 2.103