Expanding the definition of a positive family history for early-onset coronary heart disease.

PURPOSE: Assessing familial risk for early-onset coronary heart disease (CHD) is typically limited to first-degree relatives with early-onset CHD. To evaluate the impact of additional family history, we examined the associations between various family history definitions and early-onset CHD. METHODS: By using the national HealthStyles 2003 survey data, we assessed associations between self-reported family history and personal history of early-onset CHD (diagnosed at or before age 60 years), adjusting for demographics, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and obesity. RESULTS: Of 4,035 respondents, 60% were female and 72% were white, with a mean age of 48.8 years; 4.4% had early-onset CHD. In addition to having at least one first-degree relative with early-onset CHD, other significant associations included having at least one first-degree relative with late-onset CHD, at least one second-degree relative with early-onset CHD, and two or more affected second-degree relatives regardless of age of onset of CHD. Early-onset stroke in at least one first-degree relative and, in women, having at least one first-degree relative with diabetes were also significantly associated with early-onset CHD. CONCLUSIONS: Family history beyond early-onset CHD in first-degree relatives is significantly associated with prevalent CHD diagnosed at or before age 60 years.     

Behavioral clusters and coronary heart disease risk.

The purpose of the present study was to empirically identify individuals who differed in their patterns of components derived from the structured interview (SI), and to evaluate whether individuals characterized by the different patterns varied in terms of their risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). The present study represents a reanalysis of data from the Western Collaborative Group Study in which components of Type A were individually related to risk for CHD. Subgroups of individuals who differed in the patterns of their component scores were identified by means of cluster analytic techniques and were found to vary in their risk of CHD. As expected, a pattern of characteristics in which hostility was salient was found to be predictive of CHD. Moreover, another pattern of characteristics that appears to reflect pressured, controlling, socially dominant behavior in which hostility was not salient also was found to be predictive of CHD. Further, two patterns of characteristics were identified that were unrelated to CHD risk. Finally, two patterns of characteristics were identified that were related to reduced risk of CHD. Overall, these results suggest that future research should investigate variables in addition to hostility in regard to risk for and protection from CHD.     

Menopause and risk factors for coronary heart disease

Postmenopausal women are believed to have a higher risk of coronary artery disease than premenopausal women. In this study, we prospectively determined changes in coronary risk factors that were attributable to natural menopause in 541 healthy, initially premenopausal women 42 to 50 years of age. After approximately 2 1/2 years, 69 women had spontaneously stopped menstruating for at least 12 months, and 32 women had stopped natural menstruation and received hormone-replacement therapy for a period of at least 12 months. An equal number of age-matched premenopausal women in the study group served as controls. In women who had a natural menopause and did not receive hormone-replacement therapy, serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol declined as compared with those of premenopausal controls (-0.09 vs. 0.00 mmol per liter; P = 0.01), and levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol increased (+0.31 vs. +0.14 mmol per liter; P = 0.04). In menopausal women who received hormone-replacement therapy, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels did not change, but the levels of triglycerides (+0.42 vs. -0.04 mmol per liter; P less than 0.001), apolipoprotein A-I (+0.18 vs. +0.03 g per liter; P less than 0.01), and apolipoprotein A-II (+0.05 vs. -0.03 g per liter; P less than 0.05) increased as compared with premenopausal controls. Natural menopause did not affect blood pressure, plasma glucose or insulin levels, body weight, the total number of kilojoules consumed in the diet, or the total number of kilojoules expended in physical activity. These results suggest that a natural menopause has an unfavorable effect on lipid metabolism, which may contribute to an increase in the risk of coronary disease. Hormone-replacement therapy may prevent some of these changes.     

Familial occurrence of coronary heart disease according to clinical manifestation

Occurrence of different clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease (CHD) was assessed among the parents and siblings of 309 men with CHD (case probands), including 103 men with fatal and 100 with nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and 106 men with angina pectoris (AP) and among the relatives of 106 reference men. CHD was equally common among relatives of all case probands. It was four times as common in case brothers and twice as common in case sisters as in the respective reference siblings. There were differences between the various case groups as to the predominant clinical manifestation of CHD. Cardiac deaths were commonest in the sibs of men with fatal MI, and uncomplicated angina in the men with AP. The familial resemblance in the clinical manifestations of CHD suggests familial influence in the mechanisms determining the clinical expression of the disease.     

Burnout as a risk factor for coronary heart disease

During the preparation of a prospective study of exhaustion as a precursor of myocardial infarction (MI), the authors found that many coronary patients said that they had been burned out at some time in their lives. Therefore, the question, "Have you ever been burned out?" was included in the study. The cohort was formed by 3,877 men, aged 39 to 65, and was followed up on for 4.2 years. Among the men who were free of coronary heart disease (CHD) at screening, 59 subjects experienced a fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction during follow-up. Those who endorsed the above question when they entered the study were found to be at increased risk for myocardial infarction when the authors controlled for age, blood pressure, smoking, and cholesterol; RR (relative risk) = 2.13; p less than .01. About one third of those who were exhausted before myocardial infarction had been burned out at some time in their lives, chi 2 = 7.09, p less than .01. The data indicate that a state of exhaustion before myocardial infarction is often a reactivation of earlier periods of breakdown in adaptation to stress.     

Gender differences in risk factors for coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD), traditionally considered a male disease, is also a major threat to women. This review article addresses independent risk factors for CHD that are specific for women as well as non-gender-specific risk factors and how their effects differ between men and women.     

Hormone replacement therapy and risk for coronary heart disease. Data from the CORA-study--a case-control study on women with incident coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been suggested to prevent cardiovascular disease, while some intervention studies have shed doubt on this concept. Thus, uncertainty remains whether current HRT use is beneficial as to cardiovascular disease or may even be harmful. OBJECTIVES: This research investigates the association of hormone replacement therapy, risk factors and lifestyle characteristics with the manifestation of coronary heart disease in current HRT users versus never users. DESIGN: The coronary risk factors for atherosclerosis in women study (CORA-study) provide clinical and biochemical parameters and data on lifestyle in 200 consecutive pre- and postmenopausal women with incident coronary heart disease compared to 255 age-matched population-based controls, of which 87.9% were postmenopausal. RESULTS: Significantly more controls than cases used currently HRT for a median of 9.5 years (32.9% versus 20.2%), while 50.0% of cases and 42.5% of controls had never used HRT (p<0.02). Compared to women who never used HRT, current users ate less meat and sausage, had a significantly lower BMI and waist-to-hip ratio and a lower prevalence of hypertension, insulin resistance and diabetes. However, current users among cases were often smokers and smoked significantly more cigarettes than never users. In a multivariate analysis the risk of current HRT users for coronary artery disease was 57% lower than the risk of never users (odds ratio 0.428, CI 0.206-0.860, p<0.02). Adjustment for conventional and dietary risk factors revealed neither current HRT use, nor HRT use combined with smoking as independent risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: These data from the CORA-study are not compatible with an adverse impact of hormone replacement therapy on cardiovascular disease, rather support the notion of beneficial effects of HRT on weight, central adiposity, insulin sensitivity and blood pressure. Yet, the data do not support the presumption of a general healthy user effect in women on HRT either. Rather, in some women adverse lifestyle habits, especially intense smoking, appear to counteract possible beneficial effects of HRT.     

Selenium and vitamin E in relation to risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Fasting blood samples taken from 116 apparently healthy men aged 30-50 years were assayed for selenium, glutathione peroxidase activity, vitamin E, cadmium, lead, glucose, lipids, and albumin. Blood pressure was measured in each subject, and details of height, weight, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption were recorded. Multivariate analysis of the data showed that the decrease in blood and serum concentrations of selenium and the increase in whole blood cadmium concentrations in the cigarette smokers was independent of alcohol consumption. There was no correlation between blood selenium concentrations or glutathione peroxidase activities and the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Neither alcohol consumption nor smoking had an effect on the vitamin E concentrations. There was a strong association, however, between vitamin E and serum lipid concentrations, although the increase in triglyceride concentrations in the smokers was not matched by a comparable increase in vitamin E. The possible role of selenium in the aetiology of heart disease remains unresolved.     

白细胞介素10基因-627位点多态性与早发冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病的关系

目的探讨白细胞介素10（interleukin 10，IL10）基因-627位点多态性与早发性冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病（coronary heart disease，CHD）和血清IL10水平的关系。方法应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性办法，检测CHD患者163例和正常对照者112名IL10基因-627位点多态性，采用ELISA法检测血清IL10。结果IL10基因-627位点基因型和等位基因频率在CHD组和对照组之间差异无统计学意义，X^2值分别为1．9324，1．5703，P〉0．05。按性别分层分析，男性组X^2值分别为1．2708，0．8595，P〉0．05；女。女性组X^2值分别为0．8254，0．7127，P〉0．05。血清IL10在AA型、AC型和CC型之间差异有统计学意义，P〈0．05，但在CHD组和对照组之间差异无统计学意义，P〉0．05。结论IL10基因-627位点多态性与中国人汉族人冠病的易感性无显著关联，但可能影响IL10基因的转录活性。     

Familial risk of congenital heart defect

The economic consequences of using an index of maternal age and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening to indicate risk of Down syndrome (DS) are examined. If DS screening indicated solely by a given maternal age is economically justifiable, then amniocentesis indicated by a DS risk equivalent to that maternal age cutoff, but based on an index of maternal age (for ages below the cutoff) and low MSAFP results, is also economically justifiable. It is concluded that the extant use of MSAFP screening for DS is a move toward the cost-effective use of scarce resources that can be made available with coordinated planning. However, increased professional and public awareness may result in significant increases in aggregate demand for these services. While MSAFP screening for DS is economically justifiable, there exists some potential for bottlenecks at the aggregate level, and these should be considered in conjunction with recommendations that the technology be adopted on a widespread basis.     

Identification of a chromosome 8p locus for early-onset coronary heart disease in a French Canadian population

Susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD) has long been known to exhibit familial aggregation, with heritability estimated to be greater than 50%. The French Canadian population of the Saguenay-Lac Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada is descended from a founder population that settled this region 300-400 years ago and this may provide increased power to detect genes contributing to complex traits such as CHD. Probands with early-onset CHD, defined by angiographically determined coronary stenosis, and their relatives were recruited from this population (average sibship size of 6.4). Linkage analysis was performed following a genome-wide microsatellite marker scan on 42 families with 284 individuals. Nonparametric linkage (NPL) analysis provided suggestive evidence for a CHD susceptibility locus on chromosome 8 with an NPL score of 3.14 (P=0.001) at D8S1106. Linkage to this locus was verified by fine mapping in an enlarged sample of 50 families with 320 individuals. This analysis provided evidence of linkage at D8S552 (NPL score=3.53, P=0.0003), a marker that maps to the same location as D8S1106. Candidate genes in this region, including macrophage scavenger receptor 1, farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1, fibrinogen-like 1, and GATA-binding protein 4, were resequenced in all coding exons in both affected and unaffected individuals. Association studies with variants in these and five other genes did not identify a disease-associated mutation. In conclusion, a genome-wide scan and additional fine mapping provide evidence for a locus on chromosome 8 that contributes to CHD in a French Canadian population.     

Body composition assessment and coronary heart disease risk factors among college students of three ethnic groups

OBJECTIVES: This study identified and compared anthropometric measurements, body composition and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors among college students of three ethnic groups. METHODS: Subjects were assessed for cardiovascular risk. Body composition analysis was performed using the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). RESULTS: Black non-Hispanic females (30%) were significantly (p < 0.017) more in the "overweight" category compared to white non-Hispanic females (6.7%). Black non-Hispanic females had significantly (p < 0.044) higher percentages of body fat and lower percentages of body lean, and significantly (p < 0.040) lower percentages of body water than white non-Hispanic females. Significant positive correlations were found between CHD Risk Point Standard (CHDRPS) and percentages of body fat in white non-Hispanic males (p < 0.005), Hispanic males (p < 0.016) and Hispanic females (p < 0.001). Significant inverse correlations were found between CHDRPS and percentages of body water in white non-Hispanic males (p < 0.004), Hispanic males (p < 0.013) and Hispanic females (p < 0.001): body lean in white non-Hispanic males (p < 0.005), Hispanic males (p < 0.016) and Hispanic females (p < 0.001); and lean/fat ratio in white non-Hispanic males (p < 0.008), Hispanic males (p < 0.030), black non-Hispanic males (p < 0.020) and Hispanic females (p < 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of overweight justifies a high priority for weight control in young adults in an effort to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) later in life.     

A primary care intervention programme for obesity and coronary heart disease risk factor reduction.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a growing problem, with its associated morbidity, mortality, and economic costs. Treatment options and the availability of resources are limited and inconsistent. AIM: To implement and evaluate a primary care dietitian-run weight management programme. DESIGN OF STUDY: Pilot intervention study. SETTING: Three health centres in the north locality of Nottingham City Primary Care Trust. METHOD: Two hundred and sixteen individuals, with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m(2) and coronary heart disease risk factors, were recruited to attend education and support groups. Changes in BMI, waist circumference, percentage body fat, blood pressure, blood lipids, glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), and assessment of psychological wellbeing using the "short form" (SF-36) general health questionnaire, were conducted at 0, 3, and 12 months. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty patients completed the 3-month phase, and 75 completed the follow-up 9-month phase. Four per cent of patients entering the programme achieved a 10% weight loss, and 13% achieved a weight loss between 5 and 10%. Those continuing to attend achieved a mean weight loss of 2.9% (mean = 3.1 kg, ranging from a loss of 23.6 kg to a gain of 3.8 kg, P < 0.001) at 3 months, which was maintained at 12 months. Waist circumference, percentage body fat, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HbA(1c) (in those with diabetes) (P < 0.001), and triglycerides (P = 0.004) showed reduction. Psychological wellbeing improved in seven of the nine categories of the SF-36. CONCLUSION: Those who continued to attend the programme showed significant reduction in weight and other clinical parameters at 3 months, and this was maintained at 1 year with less intensive support. An attrition rate of approximately 66% by 12 months demonstrated that, in spite of intensive dietetic resources, patient retention and follow-up of progress was difficult.