Family aggregation of pulmonary function measurements.

Family aggregation of pulmonary function measurements was analyzed in the nuclear families of the Tucson epidemiologic study of airway obstructive diseases (AOD). There were 271 parental pairs and their natural children who had satisfactory pulmonary function data. Initial regression analysis showed significant correlations of the pulmonary function variables after controlling for age and sex. Body habitus, as measured by the Ponderal Index, was highly aggregated as well. Pulmonary function measurements were aggregated in families independent of family size, reported diagnosed AOD, and children's smoking, even though both asthma and smoking showed significant familial aggregation. After controlling for the familial aggregation of body habitus, a major determinant of pulmonary function, there was no remaining independent aggregation of pulmonary function measurements. It was also determined that parental passive smoking had no effect on children's pulmonary function measurements.