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UK IBD Twin Registry: Concordance and Environmental Risk Factors of Twins with IBD

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Twin studies have long been used to infer heritability. Within the ‘omics era, twin cohorts have even greater research potential. This study describes the formation of the UK IBD Twin Registry and analysis of concordance and environmental factors.

Method

Twin pairs with IBD were recruited by advertising via IBD charities and social media, re-tracing a dormant IBD database and clinician referral. Details of zygosity, concordance, disease history and environmental factors were assessed. Pair concordance was calculated, and environmental factors were analysed with logistic regression models adjusted for zygosity and concordance.

Results

Ninety-one twin pairs were included in the analysis; forty-two with CD and forty-nine with UC. More MZ twin pairs with CD were concordant compared with DZ pairs, thus inferring heritability (Chi-sq. 15.6. P < 0.001). In UC, MZ concordance was also numerically greater. Cigarette smoking was predictive of CD (OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.16 to 6.07 P = 0.02); there may be an independent association with cannabis smoking (OR 2.59 95% CI 0.89 to 7.55 P = 0.08). Breastfeeding was protective against UC (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.25–0.93, P = 0.03), but not CD. Self-reports of less occurrences of gastroenteritis than peers were protective against future UC onset (OR 0.33 95% CI 0.15 to 0.74, P = 0.01). Method of delivery, parental attitudes towards hygiene and recall of diet did not impact future IBD concordance.

Conclusions

This study supports the heritability of IBD. Twin study analysis was able to elucidate environmental factors associated with IBD.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank our statistician Sundhiya Mandalia and the participating twins who have made this study possible.

Funding

This work was supported by The Jesse and Thomas Tam Family Foundation and Crohn’s and Colitis UK (CCUK:M/13/4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Rd, Whitechapel, London, E1 1FR, UK

    Hannah Gordon, William Blad, Frederik Trier Møller, Timothy Orchard, Alan Steel, Gareth Trevelyan, Siew Ng & Marcus Harbord

Authors
  1. Hannah Gordon
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  2. William Blad
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  3. Frederik Trier Møller
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  4. Timothy Orchard
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  5. Alan Steel
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  7. Siew Ng
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  8. Marcus Harbord
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Contributions

HG: Study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, literature search, figures, writing; WB: data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, figures, writing; FTM: study design, literature search, data interpretation, writing; TO: study design, data analysis, data interpretation; AS: data controller, study design, data interpretation; GT: data collection, data analysis; SN: study design, grant application, data interpretation; MH: study design, grant application, data interpretation, literature search, writing; HG and WB contributed equally to this publication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hannah Gordon.

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Conflict of interest

The authors Dr. Hannah Gordon, Dr. William Blad, Dr. Frederik Trier Molle, Dr. Alan Steel, Dr. Gareth Trevelyan, Prof Siew Ng, Dr. Marcus Harbord declares that they have no conflict of interest; Prof Tim Orchard: Receipt of honoraria or consultation fees: AbbVie, Merck, Napp, Takeda, NICE. Participation in a Company's sponsored speaker's bureau: AbbVie, Merck, Takeda, Allergan.

Ethical considerations

The registry has independent ethics committee permissions (REC 12/SC/0260).

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Gordon, H., Blad, W., Trier Møller, F. et al. UK IBD Twin Registry: Concordance and Environmental Risk Factors of Twins with IBD. Dig Dis Sci 67, 2444–2450 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-021-07080-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-021-07080-5

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