What factors increase Heart disease occurrence among Siblings?

The aim of the study in the Journal of the associations of Physician of India JAPI was to study various factors that are causing differences in the prevalence of coronary risk factors among siblings.

The study was conducted among healthy individuals attending regular health care outpatient departments (OPD) and their siblings over a period of 1½ years.

Among 100 pairs of healthy siblings who came for health checkups at the health centers. Prevalence of obesity was more in siblings living in urban areas than their counter siblings living in a rural areas, but it was statistically insignificant. Six had impaired fasting blood sugar (FBS) and two were diabetic. Among their siblings living in urban areas, 21 were nondiabetic, 10 had impaired FBS, and seven were diabetic.

While, among Coronary Artery Disease, out of 23 subjects, two subjects (9.0%) had heavy stress levels, while the remaining four subjects (17.0%) and 17 subjects (74.0%) had light and moderate stress levels, respectively. Significant results were obtained while comparing the Coronary Artery Disease findings of subjects divided on the basis of stress level.

Researchers ended by saying that among siblings, significant results were obtained for factors including residence, socioeconomic class, physical activity, stress levels, smoking, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and diabetes, that is, all these factors have a correlation in increasing Coronary Artery Disease among siblings.

Reference: Anter Preet1, Sandeep Chhabra2, Shibba T Chabbra "Various Factors that are Causing Difference in Prevalence of Coronary Risk Factors among Siblings", Volume Issue: 70, JAPI