Managing differential performance of polygenic risk scores across groups: Real-world experience of the eMERGE Network

Am J Hum Genet. 2024 Jun 6;111(6):999-1005. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.04.005. Epub 2024 Apr 29.

Abstract

The differential performance of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) by group is one of the major ethical barriers to their clinical use. It is also one of the main practical challenges for any implementation effort. The social repercussions of how people are grouped in PRS research must be considered in communications with research participants, including return of results. Here, we outline the decisions faced and choices made by a large multi-site clinical implementation study returning PRSs to diverse participants in handling this issue of differential performance. Our approach to managing the complexities associated with the differential performance of PRSs serves as a case study that can help future implementers of PRSs to plot an anticipatory course in response to this issue.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genetic Risk Score
  • Genetic Testing / methods
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Multifactorial Inheritance* / genetics
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors