Prevalence and determinants of coronary artery disease in first-degree relatives of premature coronary artery disease

Background This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) in first-degree relatives (FDRs) with premature CAD and its associating factors other than conventional risk factors. Methods A total of 122 FDRs (58 men, 50 +/- 7 years) of patients with premature CAD were enrolled. The individuals who had undergone health checkups were included in the control group. Multidetector coronary computed tomography was performed to detect subclinical CAD. Results The prevalence of subclinical CAD (35 vs. 14%, P < 0.001) and at least 50% subclinical CAD (16 vs. 2.5%, P < 0.001) was higher in FDRs than that in the control group. In conditional regression analysis, the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio showed a significant interaction with CAD in FDRs than the control (odds ratio 1.063, 95% confidence interval 1.009-1.118, P = 0.021). Conclusion FDRs of premature CAD are more prevalent in subclinical CAD independent of conventional risk factors. Urinary albumin-creatinine ratio may have an interaction with the development of subclinical CAD in FDRs of premature CAD. Coron Artery Dis 23:167-173 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.