Strong evidence exists which suggests associations between cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. The Colombo Twin and Singleton Study follow-up Study (CoTaSS 2) seeks to explore this in the Sri Lankan population and estimate the extent of overlapping genetic and environmental influences. This is the follow-up study of the population based twin study on common mental disorders in Sri Lanka conducted in 2007. CoTaSS 2 aimsA are to study the prevalence of depression and component phenotypes of metabolic syndrome as well as estimating the heritability of depression and exploring the genetic architecture of metabolic syndrome.
Participants include 1940 twin pairs (with known zygosity) and 2019 singletons from the first twin study who are being followed up. CoTaSS2 contains multiple components: questionnaires, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, clinical investigations, and heart rate variability data. A biobank containing DNA and serum from participants is being established for future genetic studies. Data collection for all components except heart rate variability has been competed. A total of 5720 participants of the first study have been traced, and data has been collected from 2899 twins and 1035 singletons. Heart rate variability data collection will continue until complete.
Results from this study will allow us to estimate the heritability of depression and explore the reliability of life-time diagnosis in a South Asian population. Describing the prevalence of component phenotypes which make up metabolic syndrome, exploring the genetic architecture of metabolic syndrome phenotypes, and estimating the extent to which phenotypic correlations are explained by shared genetic or environmental effects will be done as well. We will also be able to determine whether there is a significant aetiological overlap between depression and component phenotypes of metabolic syndrome.