Family history of myocardial infarction is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism among whites but not among blacks.
In addition to potentially sharing common pathogenesis and clinical manifestations, venous and arterial thromboses might have overlapping risk factors. To evaluate the family history of myocardial infarction (MI) as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) among whites and blacks, we analyze data from the Genetic Attributes and Thrombosis Epidemiology (GATE) study. Results indicate that the association between VTE and a family history of MI is statistically significant only among whites (odds ratio [OR] = 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.8), particularly when they have diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.1; 95% CI = 1.2-8.0). Among blacks, the association between VTE and a family history of MI is not statistically significant (OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 0.89-1.5) either among those with diabetes or those without diabetes. We conclude that a family history of MI is a risk factor for VTE among certain populations stratified by race and comorbid conditions.
Laboratory Research Branch, Division of Blood Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. fmili@cdc.gov
Fatima D
FD
Mili
W Craig
WC
Hooper
Cathy
C
Lally
Harland
H
Austin
D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001741:Black or African American