Family History and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death as a Manifestation of an Acute Coronary Event

Abstract

Background-Observational studies have suggested that a parental history of sudden death increases one's risk of dying suddenly. This study tested the hypothesis that a family history of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a risk factor for SCD caused by an acute coronary event. Methods and Results-A retrospective case-control study included (1) consecutive victims of SCD (nϭ138) whose deaths were verified to be due to an acute coronary event without a history of prior myocardial infarction at medicolegal autopsy, (2) consecutive patients surviving an acute myocardial infarction (AMI; nϭ254), and (3) healthy control subjects (nϭ470). Family history of AMI and SCD among the first-degree relatives was ascertained in each study group.

2015 ESC Guidelines for the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death

“…Kilka badań [57][58][59][60][61] dostarczyło dowodów na istnienie genetycznej skłonności do nagłego zgonu. Grupa badawcza pod kierunkiem Jouvena była jedną z pierwszych, w której oceniano wartość predykcyjną występowania nagłych zgonów w rodzinie.…”

The family history: the first genetic test, and still useful after all those years?

“…44 In addition, family history is relevant for subclinical disease, such as coronary artery calcification 45,46 and the risk of sudden death during an acute coronary event. 47 As with type 2 diabetes, GWAS has uncovered dozens of loci that are associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease. 48 One marker, at chromosomal locus 9p21, has garnered considerable attention because of its effect in multiple ethnic groups, the reproducibility of the finding in almost every study, and the infinitesimally small p value of the combined statistical strength of association.…”

2016 AHA/ACC Clinical Performance and Quality Measures for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Performance Measures

“…[54][55][56][57][58] For instance, compared with 10.6% of referents, 18.6% of individuals in the Paris Prospective Study who experienced SCD in follow-up reported a parental history of SCD at baseline. The adjusted relative risk of a parental history of SCD was 1.80 (95% confidence interval: 1.11-2.88; P=0.01).…”

“…54 Similarly, in a retrospective case-control study from Finland, individuals who had experienced SCD had a 2.2-fold higher odds of have a firstdegree relative with SCD than did control individuals. 58 Elsewhere in the present document, the writing committee proposes a performance measure targeting survivors of SCA who have a confirmed diagnosis of an inheritable condition associated with an increased risk of SCD and requiring clinical documentation that their first-degree relatives have been notified of the need for screening for the condition. However, the writing committee notes that as opposed to screening the families of patients who have survived SCA, the rationale for screening for a family history of SCD is less clear if applied to the general population or even to individuals with many of the conditions associated with increased risk for SCD.…”