Younger age of patients with myocardial infarction is associated with a higher number of relatives with a history of premature atherosclerosis.

backgroundPremature coronary artery disease is one of the most pressing global issues in modern cardiology. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of family history of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients aged < 50 years with myocardial infarction (MI) compared to that in patients aged ≥50 years with MI and to that in young people without MI (no-MI < 50).

methodsThe studied group (MI < 50) consisted of 240 patients aged 26-49 years with MI. The control groups consisted of 240 patients (MI ≥ 50) with MI aged 50-92 years and 240 healthy people aged 30-49 years without a history of MI (no-MI < 50).

resultsThere were statistically significant differences between the MI < 50 and MI ≥ 50 and no-MI < 50 groups regarding the family history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke and the percentage of patients with ≥2 relatives affected (10.8, 2.9, and 3.7%, respectively; p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference in the patient age at the first MI occurrence among patients without a family history of premature CVD, those with 1 affected relative, and those with ≥2 affected first-degree relatives (56.6, 48.6 and 41.8 years, respectively) as well as those with affected first- and second-degree relatives (56.5, 50.7 and 47.0 years, respectively).

conclusionsA younger age of patients with myocardial infarction is associated with a higher number of relatives with a history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke. Thus, the family history of premature atherosclerosis involving not only first- but also second-degree relatives seems to be a valuable factor in CVD risk evaluation in young people.