Family history in first degree relatives of patients with premature cardiovascular disease

Background: Family history (FH) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in first degree relatives (FDR) is a major risk factor, especially for premature events. Data are sparse on FH of different manifestations of CVD among FDRs of patients with premature myocardial infarction (MI), chronic stable angina (CSA) or peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

Methods: We obtained FHs from first degree relatives (parents or siblings) of 230 consecutive patients with premature (men < 60 and women < 65 years) CVD, including 79 wth MI, 39 CSA, 51 PVD and 61 blood donors. Among 1225 parents or siblings, 421 had MI, 222 CSA, 261PVD and 321 were among blood donors.

Results: FH of MI were 5.6% (18/321) among blood donors, 14.0% (59/421) among patients with premature MI, 14.4% (32/222) CSA, and 8.0% (21/261) PVD. (all p < 0.05). For FH of CSA the corresponding frequencies were 3.7% 5.2%, 11.3%, and 6.9%. (all p < 0.05). For PVD, the corresponding frequencies were 2.1%, 3.4%, 0.9% and 0.7%, respectively. (p = ns).

Conclusions: These data are compatible with the hypothesis that FH of MI, CSA and PVD are significantly different for patients with premature MI or CSA but not PVD.