A Comparison of Lifestyle,Genetic,Bioclinical and Biochemical Variables of Offspring with and without Family Histories of Premature Coronary Heart Disease: The Experience of the European Atherosclerosis Research Studies

Abstract

Background

Lifestyle, genetic, bioclinical and biochemical factors of European university students aged 18–26 years, with and without documented paternal histories of premature coronary heart disease, have been compared in the European Atherosclerosis Research Studies (EARS) I and II.

Objective

To highlight consistencies and inconsistencies between findings in the two studies.

Methods

All measurements were made according to strict protocols, by trained technicians using validated methods. The results for men in EARS I are compared with those from EARS II which was confined to men.

Results

In both studies we found no differences between cases and controls in lifestyle factors and bioclinical factors except that controls were taller, We found inconsistent differences between obesity indices and antecedents of arterial hypertension. In both studies we found consistent differences between cases and controls in levels of total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, both levels being higher in cases. The lack of any difference between levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 was also found consistently. Inconsistent differences were found for levels of triglycerides and apolipoprotein E. For most of the candidate genes that were studied, no differences between cases and controls were found, but different polymorphisms were associated with levels of lipids, apoproteins and fibrinogen independently of case–control status. Some of these associations were potentiated by lifestyle factors. The interaction between genetic and environmental factors is further illustrated with results from the association of apolipoprotein E polymorphism with the level of apolipoprotein B and a variety of other determinants of apolipoprotein B level.

Conclusions

In the EARS studies a documented family history of premature coronary heart disease was mainly expressed in terms of biochemical factors that are determined both by nature and by nurture.