Family history of myocardial infarction, stroke and diabetes and cardiometabolic markers in children

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis Despite the overlap in occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes and their risk factors, family history of these diseases has not yet been investigated simultaneously in relation to cardiometabolic markers in offspring. We examined how a family history of CVD and/or diabetes relates to cardiometabolic markers in offspring, and to what extent these diseases independently contribute to cardiometabolic markers. Methods We used data from 1,374 12-year-old children and their parents participating in a birth cohort study in the Netherlands. Family history of CVD (myocardial infarction [MI] and stroke) and diabetes were reported by the parents. Children were classified as 'no', 'moderate' or 'strong' family history, based on early/late onset of disease in parents and grandparents. Cardiometabolic markers were measured at 12 years of age: waist circumference, cholesterol, blood pressure and HbA 1c .Results Compared with those with no family history, children with a strong family history of MI and/or stroke and/or diabetes (29% of the study population) had 0.13 mmol/l higher total cholesterol (TC) (95% CI 0.03, 0.23) and 0.18 higher TC/ HDL-cholesterol (HDLC) ratio (95% CI 0.04, 0.32). A strong family history of MI or diabetes was independently associated with unfavourable cardiometabolic markers specific to those diseases. These associations remained after adjusting for BMI. Children with a moderate family history had no unfavourable cardiometabolic markers. Conclusions/interpretation One-third of the children had a strong family history of CVD and/or diabetes. These children had higher TC levels and TC/HDLC ratios than children with no family history. A strong family history of MI or diabetes was independently associated with unfavourable cardiometabolic markers specific to those diseases.

Associations of grandparental diabetes mellitus with grandchild BMI status

“…In concordance with our study, a cross sectional national survey in Sri Lanka ( n = 4485) demonstrated that family history of diabetes was associated with the prevalence of adults obesity as defined with the use of BMI [10]. Likewise, the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children (ALSPAC) ( n = 12,076) revealed that the grandchildren of maternal grandparents with DM were more likely to have higher birth weight than those grandchildren of non-grandparental diabetics [12], and a recent study in Netherlands indicated that children with strong family history of diabetes had higher total cholesterol [20]. In contrast, no association was observed between metabolic syndrome including obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance in F0 mice and obesity in grand-offspring (F2) by using a mouse model [21].…”

Impact of the South Asian Adolescent Diabetes Awareness Program (SAADAP) on diabetes knowledge, risk perception and health behaviour

“…This site was chosen since the SA population comprises 27.7% of the local population and experiences a high T2DM disease burden (Desai et al, 2021) . Classification of family history was based on participants having at least one biological parent and grandparent diagnosed with T2DM (Berentzen et al, 2016). Staff at the collaborating clinic presented parents and/or grandparents with T2DM with the opportunity to enrol their children/grandchildren in SAADAP.…”

Clustering of cardio-metabolic risk factors in parents of adolescents with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria

“…In addition, cardio‐metabolic risk factors, such as increased blood pressure and lipid levels, visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and their combination, known as metabolic syndrome, are strong predictors for CVD risk in the general population and in people with T1D . Based on these data, the investigation of specific cardio‐metabolic risk factors and their clustering within families has become an appealing research area over the last years.…”

“…Based on these data, the investigation of specific cardio‐metabolic risk factors and their clustering within families has become an appealing research area over the last years. A recent study on a large population of 12‐year‐old children and their parents showed that a family history of CVD had a key impact on the cardio‐metabolic profile of the offspring, thus highlighting the importance of identifying CVD risk factors within families for preventive strategies . In adults with T1D a family history of hypertension or insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes has been associated with risk of DN in the offspring .…”

“…A recent study on a large population of 12-year-old children and their parents showed that a family history of CVD had a key impact on the cardio-metabolic profile of the offspring, thus highlighting the importance of identifying CVD risk factors within families for preventive strategies. 9 In adults with T1D a family history of hypertension or insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes has been associated with risk of DN in the offspring. [12][13][14][15] Some studies have also highlighted that a clustering of familial cardio-metabolic risk factors could have a stronger effect than individual factors on risk of DN.…”