Confers near double the risk regardless of background risk factors, gender of parent
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Parental history (PH) of myocardial infarction (MI) is an independent predictor of future MI, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Clara K. Chow, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., of McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, and colleagues analyzed 12,149 cases of first MIs and 14,467 controls from the INTERHEART study, to investigate the association of PH of MI with the risk of future MI. The researchers compared demographic factors, socioeconomic status, and other risk factors, and performed genetic analyses on a subset of participants.
The researchers found PH of MI to be an independent predictor of future MI, regardless of age, gender, geography, or socioeconomic status. PH of MI in either parent was more prevalent in the cases of MI, than in controls (18.1 versus 12.0 percent), and prevalence in both parents showed a similar relationship (2.1 versus 0.9 percent). The odds ratio (OR) of MI associated with a PH of MI in either parent was 1.81. A graded relationship of increased risk was found where the PH of MI occurred in a parent younger than 50 years and was highest if both parents had an MI before 50 years of age (OR, 6.56).
"The simple self-report measure of a PH of MI confers a near doubling of MI risk regardless of background risk factors, country, and age, or whether the history was from the mother or father," the authors write.
The INTERHEART study received unrestricted grants from several pharmaceutical companies.
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