Risk of cardiovascular disease in family members of young sudden cardiac death victims

TY - JOUR

T1 - Risk of cardiovascular disease in family members of young sudden cardiac death victims

AU - Ranthe, Mattis Flyvholm

AU - Winkel, Bo Gregers

AU - Andersen, Elisabeth Wreford

AU - Risgaard, Bjarke

AU - Wohlfahrt, Jan

AU - Bundgaard, Henning

AU - Haunsø, Stig

AU - Melbye, Mads

AU - Tfelt-Hansen, Jacob

AU - Boyd, Heather A.

PY - 2013/2/14

Y1 - 2013/2/14

N2 - Aims Descriptive and genetic studies suggest that relatives of sudden cardiac death (SCD) victims have an increased risk of several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Given the severe consequences of undiagnosed CVD and the availability of effective treatment, the potential for prevention in this group is enormous if they do have an increased CVD risk. This nationwide prospective population-based cohort study described the risk of CVDs in relatives of young SCD victims, compared with the general population.Methods and ResultsAll SCD victims aged 1-35 years in Denmark, 2000-2006, were identified (n = 470), along with their first-and second-degree relatives (n = 3073). We compared the incidence of CVD in those relatives with that in the background population using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). The observed number of CVDs over 11 years of follow-up was 292, compared with 219 expected based on national rates [SIR 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-1.50]. Risks varied significantly with age; the SIR for those <35 years was 3.53 (95% CI 2.65-4.69), compared with SIRs of 1.59 (95% CI 1.35-1.89) and 0.91 (95% CI 0.75-1.10) for those aged 35-60 years or >60 years, respectively (Phomogeneity < 0.0001). For first-degree relatives <35 years, SIRs for ischaemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and ventricular arrhythmia were 5.99 (95% CI 1.95-0.13.98), 17.91 (95% CI 4.88-45.87), and 19.15 (95% CI 7.70-39.45), respectively. ConclusionCVDs co-aggregated significantly with SCD in families, with young first-degree relatives at greatest risk. Results clearly indicate that family members of young SCD victims should be offered comprehensive and systematic screening, with focus on the youngest relatives.

AB - Aims Descriptive and genetic studies suggest that relatives of sudden cardiac death (SCD) victims have an increased risk of several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Given the severe consequences of undiagnosed CVD and the availability of effective treatment, the potential for prevention in this group is enormous if they do have an increased CVD risk. This nationwide prospective population-based cohort study described the risk of CVDs in relatives of young SCD victims, compared with the general population.Methods and ResultsAll SCD victims aged 1-35 years in Denmark, 2000-2006, were identified (n = 470), along with their first-and second-degree relatives (n = 3073). We compared the incidence of CVD in those relatives with that in the background population using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). The observed number of CVDs over 11 years of follow-up was 292, compared with 219 expected based on national rates [SIR 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-1.50]. Risks varied significantly with age; the SIR for those <35 years was 3.53 (95% CI 2.65-4.69), compared with SIRs of 1.59 (95% CI 1.35-1.89) and 0.91 (95% CI 0.75-1.10) for those aged 35-60 years or >60 years, respectively (Phomogeneity < 0.0001). For first-degree relatives <35 years, SIRs for ischaemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and ventricular arrhythmia were 5.99 (95% CI 1.95-0.13.98), 17.91 (95% CI 4.88-45.87), and 19.15 (95% CI 7.70-39.45), respectively. ConclusionCVDs co-aggregated significantly with SCD in families, with young first-degree relatives at greatest risk. Results clearly indicate that family members of young SCD victims should be offered comprehensive and systematic screening, with focus on the youngest relatives.

KW - Cardiomyopathy

KW - Cascade screening

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Ischaemic heart disease

KW - Sudden cardiac death

KW - Ventricular arrhythmia

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84874261301&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/eurheartj/ehs350

DO - 10.1093/eurheartj/ehs350

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23150455

AN - SCOPUS:84874261301

SN - 0195-668X

VL - 34

SP - 503

EP - 511

JO - European Heart Journal

JF - European Heart Journal

IS - 7

ER -