A cross-sectional study of familial clustering in hyperhomocysteinemia.
BACKGROUND
Hyperhomocysteinemia is correlated with diseases and lifestyle habits. However, there is no epidemiological evidence concerning the distribution and prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in a local community.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to clarify the distribution and prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and the existence or nonexistence of familial clustering.


METHODS
The subjects were participants in the Basic Health Check Service 1999. We administered a questionnaire and obtained blood samples from 865 subjects (306 men, 559 women) who agreed to participate in our study.


RESULTS
Hyperhomocysteinemia was present in 52 men (17.0%) and 25 women (4.5%). Ten subjects who had hyperhomosysteinemia ha a family member who also had hyperhomocysteinemia. The odds ratio for hyperhomocysteinemia adjusted for age and sex was 4.77 (p < 0.01, 95% CI = 1.95-11.65).


CONCLUSIONS
Hyperhomocysteinemia shows familial clustering. Men and elderly persons were more likely to have hyperhomocysteinemia.
Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. mitani@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Satoko
S
Mitani
Kotaro
K
Ozasa
Masako
M
Shigeta
Nagato
N
Kuriyama
Etsuko
E
Ozaki
Toshiki
T
Mizuno
Syohei
S
Yokota
Yoshiyuki
Y
Watanabe
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D006710:Homocysteine