Frequency of family history of acute myocardial infarction in patients with acute myocardial infarction

The relation between family history of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the risk of AMI was analyzed using data of a case-control study conducted in Argentina between 1992 and 1994. Case patients were 1,060 subjects with AMI admitted to 35 coronary care units, and controls were 1,071 subjects admitted to the same network of hospitals where cases had been identified, far a wide spectrum of acute conditions unrelated to known or likely risk factors far AMI: 31% of cases versus 15% of controls reported ≤ 1 first- degree relative with history of AMI. Compared with subjects without family history of AMI, the odds ratio (OR) of AMI, after allowance far age, sex, cholesterolemia, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, body mass index, education, social class, and physical exercise, was 2.18 (95% confidence interval [Cl] 1.74 to 2.74) far those with family history of AMI. The OR was 2.04 (95% Cl 1.60 to 2.60) far subjects with 1 relative, and 3.18 (95% Cl 1.86 to 5.44) for those reporting ≤2 relatives with AMI. In women the OR far any family history of AMI was 2.83, and in men 2.01. The association was of similar magnitude if the mother (OR 1.98), the father (OR 2.13), or a sibling (OR 2.48) had had an AMI. The association with family history was stronger at a younger age because the OR far subjects reporting ≤2 more relatives with a history of AMI was 4.42 far subjects aged