Admixture mapping of severe asthma exacerbations in Hispanic/Latino children and youth

Indigenous American ancestry linked to severe asthma attacks

31 August 2023

Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans with Indigenous American ancestry have a significantly higher risk of severe asthma attacks, which can be traced to several specific genetic variants.

Both the prevalence of asthma and of severe asthma exacerbations in the United States vary substantially according to ethnicity.

Now, a team led by researchers from University of La Laguna has used whole-genome sequencing to identify genetic variants associated with severe asthma in 1,124 Puerto Rican and 625 Mexican American children with asthma. They then examined associations with ancestry.

They found one genetic variant linked to severe asthma exacerbations and Indigenous American ancestry in Mexican Americans, and two in Puerto Ricans, as well as a new genetic mutation associated with severe asthma attacks in people of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity.

Supported content

References

1. Thorax 78, 220–221 (2023). doi: 10.1136/thorax-2022-218755