Andres Metspalu
Biographic Data
| ID | 267019 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Andres Metspalu |
| GIVEN NAMES | Andres |
| FAMILY NAME | Metspalu |
| SIGNATURE | METSPALU A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Tartu |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3718-796X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 24 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 78 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 24 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Nationwide health, socio-economic and genetic predictors of Covid-19 vaccination status in Finland
Understanding factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination can highlight issues in public health systems. Using machine learning, we considered the effects of 2,890 health, socio-economic and demographic factors in the entire Finnish population aged 30–80 and genome-wide information from 273,765 individuals. The strongest predictors of vaccination status were labour income and medication purchase history. Mental health conditions and having unvac…
Genome-wide analysis identifies genetic effects on reproductive success and ongoing natural selection at the Fads locus
Mapping genomic loci implicates genes and synaptic biology in schizophrenia
Polygenic prediction of educational attainment within and between families from genome-wide association analyses in 3 million individuals
We conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of educational attainment (EA) in a sample of ~3 million individuals and identify 3,952 approximately uncorrelated genome-wide-significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A genome-wide polygenic predictor, or polygenic index (PGI), explains 12–16% of EA variance and contributes to risk prediction for ten diseases. Direct effects (i.e., controlling for parental PGIs) explain roughly half th…
Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019
BACKGROUND: Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. METHODS: We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30-79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blo…
Identification of 371 genetic variants for age at first sex and birth linked to externalising behaviour
Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories
BACKGROUND: Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. METHODS: For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease …
Genome-wide association study identifies 48 common genetic variants associated with handedness
Handedness has been extensively studied because of its relationship with language and the over-representation of left-handers in some neurodevelopmental disorders. Using data from the UK Biobank, 23andMe and the International Handedness Consortium, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of handedness (N = 1,766,671). We found 41 loci associated (P < 5 × 10−8) with left-handedness and 7 associated with ambidexterity. Tissue-enrichmen…
Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults
Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities 1,2 . This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity 3–6 . Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean B…
Estimating the performance of three cardiovascular disease risk scores
BACKGROUND: We aim to investigate the predictive ability of PCE (Pooled Cohort Equations), QRISK2 and SCORE (Systematic COronary Risk Estimation) scoring systems for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk prediction in Estonia, a country with one of the highest ASCVD event rates in Europe. METHODS: Seven-year risk estimates were calculated in risk score-specific subsets of the Estonian Biobank cohort. Calibration was assessed by stan…
Genome-wide association analyses identify 44 risk variants and refine the genetic architecture of major depression
Gene discovery and polygenic prediction from a genome-wide association study of educational attainment in 1.1 million individuals
Here we conducted a large-scale genetic association analysis of educational attainment in a sample of approximately 1.1 million individuals and identify 1,271 independent genome-wide-significant SNPs. For the SNPs taken together, we found evidence of heterogeneous effects across environments. The SNPs implicate genes involved in brain-development processes and neuron-to-neuron communication. In a separate analysis of the X chromosome, we identify…
Genetic influence on social outcomes during and after the Soviet era in Estonia
Worldwide trends in blood pressure from 1975 to 2015
BACKGROUND: Raised blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease. We estimated worldwide trends in mean systolic and mean diastolic blood pressure, and the prevalence of, and number of people with, raised blood pressure, defined as systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. METHODS: For this analysis, we pooled national, subnational, or comm…
Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016
BACKGROUND: Underweight, overweight, and obesity in childhood and adolescence are associated with adverse health consequences throughout the life-course. Our aim was to estimate worldwide trends in mean body-mass index (BMI) and a comprehensive set of BMI categories that cover underweight to obesity in children and adolescents, and to compare trends with those of adults. METHODS: We pooled 2416 population-based studies with measurements of height…
Hidden heritability due to heterogeneity across seven populations
Meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies, which dominate genetic discovery, are based on data from diverse historical time periods and populations. Genetic scores derived from genome-wide association studies explain only a fraction of the heritability estimates obtained from whole-genome studies on single populations, known as the ‘hidden heritability’ puzzle. Using seven sampling populations (n = 35,062), we test whether hidden heritabil…
Genetic evidence of assortative mating in humans
Genetic variants associated with subjective well-being, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism identified through genome-wide analyses
Genome-wide association study identifies 74 loci associated with educational attainment
Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology
GWAS of 126,559 Individuals Identifies Genetic Variants Associated with Educational Attainment
Genetic College Many genomic elements in humans are associated with behavior, including educational attainment. In a genome-wide association study including more than 100,000 samples, Rietveld et al. (p. 1467 , published online 30 May; see the Perspective by Flint and Munafò ) looked for genes related to educational attainment in Caucasians. Small genetic effects at three loci appeared to impact educational attainment.
Self-Other Agreement in Happiness and Life-Satisfaction
Feasibility of innovative dietary assessment in epidemiological studies using the approach of combining different assessment instruments
Objective To assess the feasibility of combining short-term and long-term dietary assessment instruments as new concept for improving usual dietary intake assessment on the individual level. Design Feasibility study of completing three 24 h dietary recalls (24-HDR) and a self-administered food propensity questionnaire (FPQ). The 24-HDR was conducted by monthly telephone interviews, using EPIC-SOFT software. The FPQ was completely standardized acr…
Variance determines self-observer agreement on the Big Five personality traits
Genetic evidence of assortative mating in humans
Hidden heritability due to heterogeneity across seven populations
Meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies, which dominate genetic discovery, are based on data from diverse historical time periods and populations. Genetic scores derived from genome-wide association studies explain only a fraction of the heritability estimates obtained from whole-genome studies on single populations, known as the ‘hidden heritability’ puzzle. Using seven sampling populations (n = 35,062), we test whether hidden heritabil…
Identification of 371 genetic variants for age at first sex and birth linked to externalising behaviour
Genetic influence on social outcomes during and after the Soviet era in Estonia
Variance determines self-observer agreement on the Big Five personality traits
Self-Other Agreement in Happiness and Life-Satisfaction
Genome-wide analysis identifies genetic effects on reproductive success and ongoing natural selection at the Fads locus
Genome-wide association study identifies 48 common genetic variants associated with handedness
Handedness has been extensively studied because of its relationship with language and the over-representation of left-handers in some neurodevelopmental disorders. Using data from the UK Biobank, 23andMe and the International Handedness Consortium, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of handedness (N = 1,766,671). We found 41 loci associated (P < 5 × 10−8) with left-handedness and 7 associated with ambidexterity. Tissue-enrichmen…
Estimating the performance of three cardiovascular disease risk scores
BACKGROUND: We aim to investigate the predictive ability of PCE (Pooled Cohort Equations), QRISK2 and SCORE (Systematic COronary Risk Estimation) scoring systems for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk prediction in Estonia, a country with one of the highest ASCVD event rates in Europe. METHODS: Seven-year risk estimates were calculated in risk score-specific subsets of the Estonian Biobank cohort. Calibration was assessed by stan…
Nationwide health, socio-economic and genetic predictors of Covid-19 vaccination status in Finland
Understanding factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination can highlight issues in public health systems. Using machine learning, we considered the effects of 2,890 health, socio-economic and demographic factors in the entire Finnish population aged 30–80 and genome-wide information from 273,765 individuals. The strongest predictors of vaccination status were labour income and medication purchase history. Mental health conditions and having unvac…
Variance determines self-observer agreement on the Big Five personality traits
Feasibility of innovative dietary assessment in epidemiological studies using the approach of combining different assessment instruments
Objective To assess the feasibility of combining short-term and long-term dietary assessment instruments as new concept for improving usual dietary intake assessment on the individual level. Design Feasibility study of completing three 24 h dietary recalls (24-HDR) and a self-administered food propensity questionnaire (FPQ). The 24-HDR was conducted by monthly telephone interviews, using EPIC-SOFT software. The FPQ was completely standardized acr…
GWAS of 126,559 Individuals Identifies Genetic Variants Associated with Educational Attainment
Genetic College Many genomic elements in humans are associated with behavior, including educational attainment. In a genome-wide association study including more than 100,000 samples, Rietveld et al. (p. 1467 , published online 30 May; see the Perspective by Flint and Munafò ) looked for genes related to educational attainment in Caucasians. Small genetic effects at three loci appeared to impact educational attainment.
Self-Other Agreement in Happiness and Life-Satisfaction
Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology
Genetic variants associated with subjective well-being, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism identified through genome-wide analyses
Genome-wide association study identifies 74 loci associated with educational attainment
Worldwide trends in blood pressure from 1975 to 2015
BACKGROUND: Raised blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease. We estimated worldwide trends in mean systolic and mean diastolic blood pressure, and the prevalence of, and number of people with, raised blood pressure, defined as systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. METHODS: For this analysis, we pooled national, subnational, or comm…
Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016
BACKGROUND: Underweight, overweight, and obesity in childhood and adolescence are associated with adverse health consequences throughout the life-course. Our aim was to estimate worldwide trends in mean body-mass index (BMI) and a comprehensive set of BMI categories that cover underweight to obesity in children and adolescents, and to compare trends with those of adults. METHODS: We pooled 2416 population-based studies with measurements of height…
Hidden heritability due to heterogeneity across seven populations
Meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies, which dominate genetic discovery, are based on data from diverse historical time periods and populations. Genetic scores derived from genome-wide association studies explain only a fraction of the heritability estimates obtained from whole-genome studies on single populations, known as the ‘hidden heritability’ puzzle. Using seven sampling populations (n = 35,062), we test whether hidden heritabil…
Genetic evidence of assortative mating in humans
Genome-wide association analyses identify 44 risk variants and refine the genetic architecture of major depression
Gene discovery and polygenic prediction from a genome-wide association study of educational attainment in 1.1 million individuals
Here we conducted a large-scale genetic association analysis of educational attainment in a sample of approximately 1.1 million individuals and identify 1,271 independent genome-wide-significant SNPs. For the SNPs taken together, we found evidence of heterogeneous effects across environments. The SNPs implicate genes involved in brain-development processes and neuron-to-neuron communication. In a separate analysis of the X chromosome, we identify…
Genetic influence on social outcomes during and after the Soviet era in Estonia
Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults
Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities 1,2 . This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity 3–6 . Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean B…
Estimating the performance of three cardiovascular disease risk scores
BACKGROUND: We aim to investigate the predictive ability of PCE (Pooled Cohort Equations), QRISK2 and SCORE (Systematic COronary Risk Estimation) scoring systems for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk prediction in Estonia, a country with one of the highest ASCVD event rates in Europe. METHODS: Seven-year risk estimates were calculated in risk score-specific subsets of the Estonian Biobank cohort. Calibration was assessed by stan…
Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories
BACKGROUND: Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. METHODS: For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease …
Genome-wide association study identifies 48 common genetic variants associated with handedness
Handedness has been extensively studied because of its relationship with language and the over-representation of left-handers in some neurodevelopmental disorders. Using data from the UK Biobank, 23andMe and the International Handedness Consortium, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of handedness (N = 1,766,671). We found 41 loci associated (P < 5 × 10−8) with left-handedness and 7 associated with ambidexterity. Tissue-enrichmen…
Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019
BACKGROUND: Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. METHODS: We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30-79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blo…
Identification of 371 genetic variants for age at first sex and birth linked to externalising behaviour
Mapping genomic loci implicates genes and synaptic biology in schizophrenia
Polygenic prediction of educational attainment within and between families from genome-wide association analyses in 3 million individuals
We conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of educational attainment (EA) in a sample of ~3 million individuals and identify 3,952 approximately uncorrelated genome-wide-significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A genome-wide polygenic predictor, or polygenic index (PGI), explains 12–16% of EA variance and contributes to risk prediction for ten diseases. Direct effects (i.e., controlling for parental PGIs) explain roughly half th…
Nationwide health, socio-economic and genetic predictors of Covid-19 vaccination status in Finland
Understanding factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination can highlight issues in public health systems. Using machine learning, we considered the effects of 2,890 health, socio-economic and demographic factors in the entire Finnish population aged 30–80 and genome-wide information from 273,765 individuals. The strongest predictors of vaccination status were labour income and medication purchase history. Mental health conditions and having unvac…
Genome-wide analysis identifies genetic effects on reproductive success and ongoing natural selection at the Fads locus
Biology (14 works) · Genetic Associations and Epidemiology (14 works) · Gene (11 works) · Demography (9 works) · Genome-wide association study (8 works) · Genotype (8 works) · Medicine (8 works) · Single-nucleotide polymorphism (8 works) · Birth, Development, and Health (7 works) · Environmental health (7 works)