Incorporation of family history in logistic regression models

For diseases with a genetic component, logistic regression models are presented that incorporate family history in a quantitative way. In the largest model, every type of relative has their own regression coefficient. The other two models are submodels, which incorporate family history either by the number of cases in the family minus its expectation or by a weighted number of cases in the family minus its expectation. For various genetic effects, namely polygenic and autosomal dominant effects, the performance of these simple logistic models is studied. First, the predictive values of the logistic and true genetic models are computed and compared. Secondly, a simulation study is carried out to investigate the effects of estimation of the parameters in a small data set. Thirdly, the logistic models are fitted to a data set of Von Willebrand Factor responses of target individuals and their families; in these models, family history has a significant effect. The conclusion is that for the genetic effects considered the logistic models perform well. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.