Purpose: To determine whether children and adolescents, whose fathers have established coronary artery disease (CAD), have increased prevalence of coronary risk factors (RF).
Methods: The frequencies of abnormal values of lipid variables, glucose, blood pressure, obesity index (calculated through Newen-Goldstein index), smoking and electrocardiographic alterations (ECG), were assessed in 280 descendents of young revascularized patients (< 55 years). The study population was divided in two groups according to age, respectively GA (2 to 12 years) and GB (12 to 19 years). Eventual influences of age, gender, obesity and smoking on lipid variable were evaluated through variance analysis.
Results: Of the study population, 48.2% and 44.6% had total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C respectively above the desirable values; 21.7% and 26.1% had values similar to adults under increased risk. Triglyceridemia (TG) > 200mg/dl was found in 1.4% of the sample and lower values of HDL-C in 16.8%. Overweight and obesity were observed in 13.1% and 20.0% of the patients and influenced TG levels in GB. Smoking occurred in 10.4%; hypertension in 3 cases and none had abnormal glucose levels or ECG.
Conclusion: Healthy children of fathers with established CAD, exhibit a high frequency of altered lipid profile and increased body weight. The results suggest the need for early identification of RF in offspring of young CAD patients, thus emphasizing changes in risk profile and improving lifestyle.