Risk factors main cause of young coronary artery disease - conference

Monday September 2nd, 2019

Only a minority of young patients with coronary artery disease are victims of genetics, according to analysis presented at a major conference.

Portuguese doctors said their study of patients under the age of 40 showed that 73% had at least three modifiable risk factors.

The research is reported today to the World Cardiology Congress in Paris, France.

Researchers studied some 1,075 patients under the age of 55. 555 of these had coronary artery disease.

They asked about five modifiable risk factors: inactivity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia. Just 33% of controls had at least three risk factors compared with 73% of those with coronary artery disease.

The researchers also conducted genetic analysis of the volunteers, searching for 33 variants linked to coronary artery disease (CAD) or factors such as hypertension. They said there was evidence of genetic contributions to disease – but not such a significant contribution as risk factors.

Researcher Dr João Sousa, of Funchal Hospital, Portugal, said: “The findings demonstrate that genetics contribute to CAD. However, in patients with two or more modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, genetics play a less decisive role in the development of CAD.”

He added: “In our clinical practice, we often hear young patients with premature heart disease ‘seek shelter’ and explanations in their genetics/family history.

“However, when we look at the data in our study, these young patients were frequently smokers, physically inactive, with high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure – all of which can be changed.”

Abstract: The contribution of genetics to premature CAD through different degrees of lifestyle factors: a matter of relative significance?

http://spo.escardio.org/SessionDetails.aspx

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