HOW IMPORTANT IS FAMILY HISTORY IN ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE

A positive family history is an established risk factor for ischaemic heart disease, but the size of the contribution relative to classical risks is open to debate. The literature suggests that inherited factor s are important in the development of premature ischaemic heart diseas e, but decline in importance with age. A polymorphism in the angiotens in-converting-enzyme gene was the first new genetic factor thought to contribute independently and significantly to cardiovascular risk. How ever, more recent large prospective studies have indicated that its co ntribution is smaller than was originally thought. Interventions shoul d continue to be targeted at the reduction of important environmental factors, such as smoking cigarettes.