Sample size requirements for association studies of gene-gene interaction

Gauderman, WJ

HERO ID

626945

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2002

PMID

11867360

HERO ID 626945
In Press No
Year 2002
Title Sample size requirements for association studies of gene-gene interaction
Authors Gauderman, WJ
Journal American Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 155
Issue 5
Page Numbers 478-484
Abstract In the study of complex diseases, it may be important to test hypotheses related to gene-gene (G x G) interaction. The success of such studies depends critically on obtaining adequate sample sizes. In this paper, the author investigates sample size requirements for studies of G x G interaction, focusing on four study designs: the matched-case-control design, the case-sibling design, the case-parent design, and the case-only design. All four designs provide an estimate of interaction on a multiplicative scale, which is used as a unifying theme in the comparison of sample size requirements. Across a variety of genetic models, the case-only and case-parent designs require fewer sampling units (cases and case-parent trios, respectively) than the case-control (pairs) or case-sibling (pairs) design. For example, the author describes an asthma study of two common recessive genes for which 270 matched case-control pairs would be required to detect a G x G interaction of moderate magnitude with 80% power. By comparison, the same study would require 319 case-sibling pairs but only 146 trios in the case-parent design or 116 cases in the case-only design. A software program that computes sample size for studies of G x G interaction and for studies of gene-environment (G x E) interaction is freely available (http://hydra.usc.edu/gxe).
Doi 10.1093/aje/155.5.478
Pmid 11867360
Wosid WOS:000174153800014
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Keyword ssociation; case-control studies; genetics; interaction; research design; sample size
Is Qa No