title: Strength of family history in predicting levels of blood pressure, plasma glucose and cholesterol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Limited information is available on the quantitative relationship between family history and the corresponding underlying traits. We analyzed these associations for blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and cholesterol levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from 6,102 Caucasian participants (2,903 men and 3,199 women) aged 35-75 years using a population-based cross-sectional survey in Switzerland. Cardiovascular disease risk factors were measured, and the corresponding family history was self-reported using a structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of a positive family history (in first-degree relatives) was 39.6% for hypertension, 22.3% for diabetes, and 29.0% for hypercholesterolemia. Family history was not known for at least one family member in 41.8% of participants for hypertension, 14.4% for diabetes, and 50.2% for hypercholesterolemia. A positive family history was strongly associated with higher levels of the corresponding trait, but not with the other traits. Participants who reported not to know their family history of hypertension had a higher systolic blood pressure than participants with a negative history. Sibling histories had higher positive predictive values than parental histories. The ability to discriminate, calibrate, and reclassify was best for the family history of hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family history of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia was strongly associated with the corresponding dichotomized and continuous phenotypes.
authors: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Wandeler
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Paccaud
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Vollenweider
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Waeber
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Mooser
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bochud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010641:Phenotype; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol