title: [The crystal ball: reflections on the prediction of disease].
abstract: How exactly to take the family history so that it renders maximum diagnostic or predictive yield is controversial. This comment discusses a paper that suggests that asking for the presence of risk in children of patients may have added value in terms of predicting first or recurrent cardiovascular events in their parents.
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit medisch centrum, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Yvo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Smulders
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005544:Forecasting; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors