When environmental factors result in low smoking prevalence, genetic factors are not as evident, but as environmental factors change to increase smoking prevalence genetic factors are more evident. When environmental factors result in low exposure it is more difficult to demonstrate the role of genetics.
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Prevalence Interacts with Heritability
The Increasing Prevalence of Regular Tobacco Use (RTU) over a 48 Year Period in Female Swedish Twins Is Associated with Increased HeritabilityThe prevalence and heritability of RTU was ascertained in 778 male-male and female-female twin pairs that were raised together or apart using the population based twin Swedish Twin Registry for individuals born between 1910 and 1958. Male RTU prevalence remained stable across the 3 birth cohorts (65 – 70%), as did heritability (50 – 55%). The reduction in social restraints in Sweden on smoking in females over this time period increased smoking prevalence in females, which allowed the demonstration of the importance of heritable factors on smoking.(Constructed from data in Kendler, K.S. et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 57:886 - 892, 2000) ©2011 NBEP
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