VERIFICATION OF PARENTAL HISTORY OF CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH ADULT OFFSPRING RISK-FACTORS IN A COMMUNITY SAMPLE - THE BOGALUSA HEART-STUDY

Positive parental history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (myocardial infarction, angina, angioplasty, bypass surgery) reported by 371 of 1 ,930 black and white adults aged 18 to 31 years in 1988 to 1991 in the Bogalusa Heart Study was verified by interviewing parents or next-of- kin. Error rates in reporting information concerning parental CAD and risk factors in offspring with a positive and negative parental histor y of CAD were examined. The 371 subjects who reported a positive paren tal history represented 304 families. Parental CAD could not be verifi ed in 43 (14.1%) instances, and false-positive reports occurred in 45 (14.8%) cases. Among 216 families with confirmed CAD histories, the fa ther had CAD in 175 (81.0%) cases and the mother in 70 (32.4%) cases. Both parents had CAD in 29 (13.4%) families. Of the parents with CAD, 46% of the fathers and 25% of the mothers died. The mean age at clinic al onset of CAD was 51 years. Offspring with a confirmed positive pare ntal history (n = 271) had significantly higher (P < 0.05) adjusted se rum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma insulin and glucose, body mass index, and triceps and subscapular skinfolds than s ubjects with a negative parental history (n = 1,253). Those with an un confirmed positive parental history (n = 51) had higher mean plasma in sulin and serum high-density lipoprotein levels than those with a nega tive parental history; low-density lipoprotein levels were similar. Fa mily history of CAD remains a useful indicator for screening adults at risk of developing CAD. An unverified family history may underestimat e the importance of particular risk factors in epidemiologic studies.