A comparison of lifestyle, genetic, bioclinical and biochemical variables of offspring with and without family histories of premature coronary heart disease: the experience of the European Atherosclerosis Research Studies

Background Lifestyle, genetic, bioclinical and biochemical factors of Europ ean university students aged 18-26 years, with and without documented pater nal histories of premature coronary heart disease, have been compared in th e European Atherosclerosis Research Studies (EARS) I and II. Objective To highlight consistencies and inconsistencies between findings i n the two studies. Methods All measurements were made according to strict protocols, by traine d technicians using validated methods. The results for men in EARS I are co mpared with those from EARS II which was confined to men. Results In both studies we found no differences between cases and controls in lifestyle factors and bioclinical factors except that controls were tall er. We found inconsistent differences between obesity indices and anteceden ts of arterial hypertension. In both studies we found consistent difference s between cases and controls in levels of total cholesterol and apolipoprot ein B, both levels being higher in cases. The lack of any difference betwee n levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein Al was also found consistently. Inconsistent differences were found for levels of triglycerides and apolipoprotein E. For most of the candidate genes that we re studied, no differences between cases and controls were found, but diffe rent polymorphisms were associated with levels of lipids. apoproteins and f ibrinogen independently of case-control status. Some of these associations were potentiated by lifestyle factors. The interaction between genetic and environmental factors is further illustrated with results from the associat ion of apolipoprotein E polymorphism with the level of apolipoprotein B and a variety of other determinants of apolipoprotein B level. Conclusions In the EARS studies a documented family history of premature co ronary heart disease was mainly expressed in terms of biochemical factors t hat are determined both by nature and by nurture. (C) 1999 Lippincott Willi ams & Wilkins.