Background Premature coronary artery disease is one of the most pressing global issues in modern cardiology. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of family history of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients aged < 50 years with myocardial infarction (MI) compared to that in patients aged ≥50 years with MI and to that in young people without MI (no-MI < 50). Methods The studied group (MI < 50) consisted of 240 patients aged 26–49 years with MI. The control groups consisted of 240 patients (MI ≥ 50) with MI aged 50–92 years and 240 healthy people aged 30–49 years without a history of MI (no-MI < 50). Results There were statistically significant differences between the MI < 50 and MI ≥ 50 and no-MI < 50 groups regarding the family history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke and the percentage of patients with ≥2 relatives affected (10.8, 2.9, and 3.7%, respectively; p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference in the patient age at the first MI occurrence among patients without a family history of premature CVD, those with 1 affected relative, and those with ≥2 affected first-degree relatives (56.6, 48.6 and 41.8 years, respectively) as well as those with affected first- and second-degree relatives (56.5, 50.7 and 47.0 years, respectively). Conclusions A younger age of patients with myocardial infarction is associated with a higher number of relatives with a history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke. Thus, the family history of premature atherosclerosis involving not only first- but also second-degree relatives seems to be a valuable factor in CVD risk evaluation in young people. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background: Premature coronary artery disease is one of the most pressing global issues in modern cardiology. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of family history of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients aged <50 years with myocardial infarction (MI) compared to that in patients aged ≥50 years with MI and to that in young people without MI (no-MI<50).Methods: The studied group (MI<50) consisted of 240 patients aged 26-49 years with MI. The control groups consisted of 240 patients (MI≥50) with MI aged 50-92 years and 240 healthy people aged 30-49 years without a history of MI (no-MI<50).Results: There were statistically significant differences between the MI<50 and MI≥50 and no-MI<50 groups regarding the family history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke and the percentage of patients with ≥2 relatives affected (10.8%, 2.9%, and 3.7%, respectively; p<0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference in the patient age at the first MI occurrence among patients without a family history of premature CVD, those with 1 affected relative, and those with ≥2 affected first-degree relatives (56.6, 48.6 and 41.8 years, respectively) as well as those with affected first- and second-degree relatives (56.5, 50.7 and 47.0 years, respectively). Conclusions: A younger age of patients with myocardial infarction is inversely associated with a higher number of relatives with a history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke. Thus, the family history of premature atherosclerosis involving not only first- but also second-degree relatives seems to be a valuable factor in CVD risk evaluation in young people.

Background. Premature coronary artery disease is one of the most pressing global issues in modern cardiology. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of family history of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients aged <50 years with myocardial infarction (MI) compared to that in patients aged ≥50 years with MI and to that in young people without MI (no-MI<50). Methods. The studied group (MI<50) consisted of 240 patients aged 26-49 years with MI. The control groups consisted of 240 patients (MI≥50) with MI aged 50-92 years and 240 healthy people aged 30-49 years without a history of MI (no-MI<50). Results. There were statistically significant differences between the MI<50 and MI≥50 and no-MI<50 groups regarding the family history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke and the percentage of patients with ≥2 relatives affected (10.8%, 2.9%, and 3.7%, respectively; p<0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference in the patient age at the first MI occurrence among patients without a family history of premature CVD, those with 1 affected relative, and those with ≥2 affected first-degree relatives (56.6, 48.6 and 41.8 years, respectively) as well as those with affected first- and second-degree relatives (56.5, 50.7 and 47.0 years, respectively). Conclusions. A younger age of patients with myocardial infarction is associated with a higher number of relatives with a history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke. Thus, the family history of premature atherosclerosis involving not only first- but also second-degree relatives seems to be a valuable factor in CVD risk evaluation in young people.

Background. Premature coronary artery disease belongs to the most pressing global issues in a modern cardiology. Family history appears to be one of the most important and significant risk factors in young patients with myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of the study was to investigate the role of family history of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients <50 years with myocardial infarction (MI) compared to patients ≥ 50 years with MI and to young healthy people.Methods. The studied group (MI<50) consisted of 240 patients aged 26-49 years with MI. The control groups consisted of 240 patients (MI≥50) with MI aged 50-92 years and 240 healthy people aged 30-49 years.Results. There were statistically significant differences between the MI<50 and MI≥50 and young healthy groups regarding family history of premature MI/ischaemic stroke and percent of patients with of ≥2 relatives affected including parents, children, siblings, siblings of parents and grandparents (10.8%, 2.9%, 3.7%, respectively; p<0.0001). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the age of the first episode of MI and the number of relatives with a history of premature MI/stroke (r=0.249, p<0.05) within all MI patients. Statistically significant differences between MI<50 and MI≥50 groups as well as young healthy control group were revealed regarding prevalence of smoking, body mass index (BMI), LDL, HDL, triglycerides (TG) and glucose levels.Conclusions. Younger age of patients with myocardial infarction correlates with a higher number of relatives with a history of premature MI/ischemic stroke. Thus, the family history of premature atherosclerosis involving not only the first-, but also the second-degree relatives, seems to be valuable and could be considered in an individual CVD risk evaluation in young people.