Predictors of coronary heart diseases among children and adolescents in families with premature coronary heart diseases in central eastern Finland

Abstract

Objective - To describe coronary heart disease (CHD) predictors in children and adolescents (aged from 7 to 16 years) in families with premature CHD. Design - A cross-sectional cohort study. Setting - Part of a family-oriented preventive intervention programme concerning CHD risk factors in central eastern Finland (FOPIC study). Subjects - 473 participants in families with premature CHD and 371 in control families. Main outcome measures - Traditional CHD predictors. Results - Offspring in families with premature CHD had significantly higher concentrations of total cholesterol (TC, 4.7 vs 4.5 mmol/l, pp<0.01) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, 2.8 vs 2.6 mmol/l, p<0.01) than the control children, and higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP, p<0.01). According to this cross-sectional screening of children in high-CHD-risk families in the Kainuu region, 75% of those with adverse cholesterol values could be found. After adjusting for confounding factors, associations between TC, LDL-C, body mass index, DBP and the offspring of families with a history of premature CHD were found. Conclusions - The results indicated strong associations between CHD predictors and offspring with a family history of premature CHD. The findings confirm the usability of familial premature CHD in screening for early prevention in primary health care.