DO GENETIC DETERMINATES OF ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE IMPLY THAT PREVENTION MAY BECOME MORE DIFFICULT

Favourable changes in environment and lifestyle in the community may l ead to a situation in which genetic determinants of ischaemic heart di sease assume greater importance. Does this imply that ischaemic heart disease becomes more difficult to prevent? Much of the role of the fam ily history as a risk factor within populations may be explained by ne w genetic mutations. However, differences between populations are gene rally attributable to environmental differences. A model of gene-envir onment interaction implies that individuals or populations with geneti c risk, markers are both more susceptible and more responsive to envir onmental changes, including lifestyle and drugs, and thus, may be emin ently treatable.