title: Family health history and health behaviors in Alaska native and American Indian people.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Family history of diseases among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people may influence health.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examine the prevalence of family health history among a cohort of AIAN people (n= 10,374) enrolled in the Education and Research Towards Health (EARTH) Study. We evaluate the association between having a positive family history and health behaviors to determine if those reporting a family history were more likely to report lifestyles that put them at risk of developing these health conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among participants, 17.7% reported not knowing their family history and 23.5% preferred not to answer the family history component of the questionnaire. Eight percent of participants reported a family history of colorectal cancer, 7.9% a family history of breast cancer, 25.8% a family history of heart attack, and 46.7% a family history of diabetes. Obesity, physical activity, cholesterol, and perceived health were associated with family history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with a family history of diseases may have lifestyles that influence their disease risk.
authors: University of Utah, Department of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. marty.slattery@hsc.utah.edu
authors: Martha L
authors: ML
authors: Slattery
authors: Maureen A
authors: MA
authors: Murtaugh
authors: Anne P
authors: AP
authors: Lanier
authors: Khe-Ni
authors: KN
authors: Ma
authors: Elizabeth D
authors: ED
authors: Ferucci
authors: Ruth A
authors: RA
authors: Etzel
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology; D005192:Family Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000208:ethnology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D020521:Stroke / Q000208:ethnology