Family Atherosclerosis Counseling and Testing Project

Family history of early atherosclerotic disease in a first-degree relative [(FDR) sibling, parent or child] is an important risk factor for coronary artery and/or vascular disease. The risk increases ~ 2 - 7 times over that of general population. Increased thickness of the intima and media of carotid arterial wall, increased rate of plaque formation is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. Also it is shown that increased level of calcium deposition in the arterial wall is also associated with increased level of coronary artery narrowing. We will assess the occurrence and severity of abnormalities of intima media thickness (IMT) and/or plaque formation and increased calcium deposition in the coronary arteries and their relation to the well known traditional risk factors (plasma glucose, smoking, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein ratio) and non-traditional risk factors (C-reactive protein, Lpa, homocysteine) in FDRs of index patients with early onset of heart or vascular disease and appropriate control population. Also to determine which of the above factor can assess IMT and Ca score better. This may help to reduce the cost of investigation, and to identify the population at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which may help the physicians to treat early on before cardiovascular complications occur. Also this may help to reduce the cost of invasive tests, hospital admissions and medical costs overall by reducing the morbidity and mortality.