The Family Atherosclerosis Risk Intervention Study (FARIS): risk factor profiles of patients and their relatives...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular disease research
• Preventive cardiology
• Public health interventions

Background:

• First-degree relatives of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients exhibit an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Family-based screening clinics following acute cardiac events offer a potential avenue for motivating lifestyle changes in both patients and their relatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient and relative attendance rates at a specialized screening and prevention program (Family Atherosclerosis Risk Intervention Study - FARIS).
• To compare the cardiovascular risk factor profiles of relatives with those of the general community.
• To evaluate the impact of integrated management of patients and families in a specialized clinic on risk factor profiles.

Main Methods:

• The FARIS study randomly assigned patients and their eligible family members (spouse, siblings, offspring aged 18-69) to a specialized outpatient clinic, a screening and advice group, or a control group, three months post-acute cardiac event.
• Key risk factors assessed included total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol (HDLC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), body mass index (BMI), and smoking behavior.
• Risk factor data from family members were compared to those from a multicenter urban cross-sectional survey, with statistical analysis using t-tests, ANOVA, and chi-square tests.

Main Results:

• High enrollment rates were achieved: 85.9% of eligible patients and 82.7% of eligible relatives participated.
• Family members demonstrated significantly worse cardiovascular risk factor profiles compared to individuals in the general population survey.
• The study provides initial data on the risk factor profiles within families of cardiac patients.

Conclusions:

• Family members of patients with acute cardiac events exhibit a higher burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors than the general population.
• Family-based screening and intervention programs show promise for engaging relatives and addressing their elevated cardiovascular risk.
• Integrated management within specialized clinics may offer a pathway to improve risk factor profiles in families affected by cardiovascular disease.