K Koski1, P Laippala, S L Kivelä. 1. Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Finland. keijo.koski@oulu.fi
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, p < 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 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.
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, p < 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 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.