Family history of cardiovascular disease and its modifiable risk factors and association with offspring risk profile

Background: The aggregation of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) within families and offspring with parental CVD may influence both the levels of individual risk factors and the likelihood of developing these conditions. Methods: A total of 211 parents and their 211 biological offspring from the multigenerational longitudinal ICS2 study were included. The association of the parental history of CVD and its modifiable risk factors (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) with CVD risk factor levels in offspring was assessed using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model. Results: A positive parental history of CVD was associated with an increased risk of higher body mass index levels in offspring over time (p = 0.03). Parental diabetes was associated with an increased risk of higher waist circumference (p = 0.02), waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.004), and fasting blood sugar (p < 0.001) in offspring. Parental hypertension was associated with an increased risk of higher waist circumference (p < 0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.02), and systolic (p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.01) in offspring. Moreover, a positive parental history of dyslipidemia was associated with an increased risk of higher levels of total cholesterol (p < 0.001), triglycerides (p = 0.004), LDL cholesterol (p < 0.001), and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.01) in offspring over time. Conclusions: A positive parental history of CVD and its modifiable risk factors is associated with higher normal or abnormal levels of CVD risk factors among offspring. These findings suggest that the heritability of CVD is mediated through the familial transmission of cardiometabolic risk factors, particularly overweight and obesity.