title: Association between the metabolic syndrome and parental history of premature cardiovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study is to assess the association between the metabolic syndrome (MS) and parental history of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were recruited in a population survey of 3441 men and women, aged 35-64. MS was defined with NCEP-III guidelines. Familial history of myocardial infarction (MI), angina, and stroke was assessed with a standardized questionnaire. Parental premature CVD was defined if CVD occurred before 55/65 years in the father/mother. A total of 390 men and 281 women had MS. Positive parental CVD was associated with MS in women (43.0 vs. 36.8%, P<0.001) but not in men (36.9 vs. 31.8%, P=0.06). Similarly, parental premature CVD was associated with MS in women (19.2 vs. 11.8%, P<0.0007) but not in men (11.1 vs. 11.1%, ns). In women with MS, the age, centre, and educational level adjusted odds ratios [OR (95% CI)] of having a positive parental premature stroke was 1.84 (1.0-3.38), P=0.049. This OR was 1.76 (1.23-2.76), P=0.007 for combined parental premature MI and stroke and 1.67 (1.17-2.38), P=0.004 for combined premature MI, stroke, and angina. After further adjustment on personal coronary heart disease and CVD risk factors, the ORs of having a positive parental history of combined premature MI and stroke [1.75 (1.11-2.76), P=0.016] or MI, stroke, and angina [1.79 (1.21-2.63), P=0.003], remained statistically significant, in women with MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MS is associated with parental premature CVD independently of classical CV risk factors, suggesting that MS is a contributor to the familial aggregation of premature CVD.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U508, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 1 rue du Pr Calmette, 59019 Lille Cedex, France. jean.dallongeville@pasteur-lille.fr
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dallongeville
authors.forename: Marie-Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Grupposo
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cottel
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrières
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arveiler
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: Jean-Bernard
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ruidavets
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ducimetière
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amouyel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors