The fertility of HD-affected individuals in Tasmania.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry
; 25(2): 262-4, 1991 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-1831608
ABSTRACT
PIP: Since Huntington's disease (HD) is very prevalent in Tasmania, Australia (12.1/100,000 double the mean Western prevalence), researchers conducted a field survey of HD families in Tasmania to determine fertility of affected members of these families and to compare it with that of the general population (GP). They adjusted GP data to match the age distribution of the 26 affected individuals (AIs) living in Tasmania in June 1986. The survey included inspection of all earlier collected and unpublished pedigrees, cooperation of the Tasmanian branch of the Australian HD Association, assistance of a Mental Health Services Commission of Tasmania research social worker, publicity via mass media, informing general practitioners via their newsletter, and collecting data from family members and others sources. AIs had an average of 2.96 children compared to 2.85 children for the GP. The relative frequency stood at 1.04 (AIs/GP). Therefore the HD affected population in Tasmania could produce at least as many children as GP. This finding supported other studies. Further, like the GP, AIs have shifted towards smaller family sizes. The resultant fertility level occurred despite disabling symptoms of HD. Moreover the fertility levels of unaffected siblings observed in other studies either matched or were below those of AIs. Since the study only considered children of living HD affected people, some asymptomatic heterozygotes were probably missed. If they would have been included, however, the fertility levels of the GP would have been artificially elevated. Further research will explore why AIs are as fertile as the GP since they are disabled early in adult life.
Palabras clave
Australia; Bias; Biology; Birth Rate; Chorea; Comparative Studies; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Diseases; Error Sources; Fertility; Fertility Measurements; Fertility Surveys; Genetics; Measurement; Methodological Studies; Oceania; Population; Population Dynamics; Prevalence; Research Methodology; Signs And Symptoms; Studies
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Tasa de Natalidad
/
Enfermedad de Huntington
Tipo de estudio:
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Newborn
País/Región como asunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Aust N Z J Psychiatry
Año:
1991
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido