deCODE Complete
Analyzes risk factors for more than fifty common diseases and several traits, including all of those for which deCODEhealth offers individual disease tests. deCODE Complete focuses on medical conditions that can either be better prevented through altered lifestyle or that have better treatment outcomes if detected early. It is the most comprehensive genetic scan available for evaluating risk of common diseases. It is not generally reimbursable.
Diseases and conditions covered by the deCODE Complete Scan:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, ABO Blood Types, Age Related Macular Degeneration, Alcohol Flush Reaction, Alzheimer’s Disease, Asthma, Atrial Fibrillation, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Bitter Taste Perception, Bladder Cancer, Brain Aneurysm, Brain Cancer-Glioma, Breast Cancer, Celiac Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Clopidogrel Response, Colorectal Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Essential Tremor, Exfoliation Glaucoma, Eye Color, Gallstones, Gout, Heart Attack, Hemochromatosis, Hypertension, Kidney Stones, Lactose Intolerance, Lung Cancer, Male Pattern Baldness, Multiple Sclerosis, Nicotine Dependence, Obesity, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Prostate Cancer, Psoriasis, Restless Legs Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Statin Induced Myopathy, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Testicular Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Ulcerative Colitis, Venous Thromboembolism, Warfarin Metabolism.
Asthma
Genetic factors are known to play a significant role in the development of asthma.
The deCODE Complete Scan analyzes your patients’ DNA and provides you with a personalized interpretation of their genetic risk of developing Asthma.
Discover what your patients’ DNA says about their health – deCODEhealth helps you assess your patients’ genetic risk of developing Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways
Symptoms of Asthma include difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest. Asthma can be mild, with signs and symptoms occurring only with exercise or exposure to an allergen, or it can be severe and require frequent hospitalizations. In rare but very severe cases, asthma can be deadly.
Asthma affects people of all ages, but most often starts in childhood
Asthma is a common chronic disease, affecting over 300 million people around the world. Onset of asthma typically begins in childhood but it can also start later in life (adult onset). Approximately 1 in every 10 people will develop asthma during their lifetime. In the United States, about 20 million people have been diagnosed with asthma; of these, nearly 9 million are children.
Genetics contribute to the risk of developing asthma
Genetic factors are known to play a significant role in the development of asthma. Several common genetic variants have been associated with an increased risk of developing asthma, including variants found on chromosome 2 (in the IL1RL1 gene), chromosome 9 (near the IL33 gene) and chromosome 17 (near the ORMDL3 gene).
deCODEhealth calculates your patients’ genetic risk of asthma
Several genetic variants have been identified that increase the risk of developing asthma. The number of variants included in the deCODE Complete Scan for each ethnic group are listed in the table below. These variants are used to provide a personalized interpretation of the associated genetic risk for developing asthma.
| Number of Variants Measured | |
|---|---|
| European ancestry | 3 |
| East Asian ancestry | 2 |
At present, the necessary scientific information to interpret the genetic risk for individuals of other ethnicities is not available. This information will be added as soon as it becomes available and we are assured of its quality.
Who is at increased risk for developing asthma?
Although the cause of asthma is not currently known, studies have shown that some groups of individuals may be at greater risk of developing asthma than others. The main risk factors for asthma are:
- Environmental risks: Risk of asthma may be higher for individuals who are regularly exposed to allergens, smoke, or chemicals; live in urban areas; or have a history of repeated respiratory infections during their childhood.
- Ethnicity: African Americans have higher rates of asthma than Americans of European descent.
- Age: Although asthma affects people of all ages, it often starts in childhood.
- Gender: Before puberty, asthma is more common among boys than among girls, but after adolescence more women than men are affected.
- Genetics: The risk for developing asthma is increased three- to six-fold in people who have a parent with asthma.
Asthma can’t be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled
Asthma symptoms can be caused by allergens or irritants that are inhaled into the lungs, resulting in inflamed, clogged, and constricted airways. Symptoms related to asthma can also be triggered by respiratory infections, exercise, cold air, tobacco smoke and other pollutants, stress, food, or medications.
Individuals with asthma can decrease their symptoms by avoiding these triggers and by adhering to their prescribed treatments.
Various asthma medications can help manage asthma symptoms
Treatment is primarily aimed at avoiding known allergens and respiratory irritants and controlling airway inflammation with medications. With early diagnosis and preventive treatment, most asthma patients can expect to enjoy a good quality of life.
More information
If concerned about asthma, their doctor is their best resource. Additional information can be found on these web sites:
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention – Health Statistics
- Global Initiative for Asthma
- National Heart Blood and Lung Institute
- World Health Organization (WHO)
This content was last reviewed on February 16, 2012.