Expanding the definition of a positive family history for early-onset coronary heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
Assessing familial risk for early-onset coronary heart disease (CHD) is typically limited to first-degree relatives with early-onset CHD. To evaluate the impact of additional family history, we examined the associations between various family history definitions and early-onset CHD.


METHODS
By using the national HealthStyles 2003 survey data, we assessed associations between self-reported family history and personal history of early-onset CHD (diagnosed at or before age 60 years), adjusting for demographics, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and obesity.


RESULTS
Of 4,035 respondents, 60% were female and 72% were white, with a mean age of 48.8 years; 4.4% had early-onset CHD. In addition to having at least one first-degree relative with early-onset CHD, other significant associations included having at least one first-degree relative with late-onset CHD, at least one second-degree relative with early-onset CHD, and two or more affected second-degree relatives regardless of age of onset of CHD. Early-onset stroke in at least one first-degree relative and, in women, having at least one first-degree relative with diabetes were also significantly associated with early-onset CHD.


CONCLUSIONS
Family history beyond early-onset CHD in first-degree relatives is significantly associated with prevalent CHD diagnosed at or before age 60 years.
Scheuner
Maren T
MT
Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Whitworth
William C
WC
McGruder
Henraya
H
Yoon
Paula W
PW
Khoury
Muin J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D003625:Data Collection; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology