Abstract
Since family history of diabetes is a very strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes, which is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), it might be also useful to assess the risk for CVD. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between a familial (parents and siblings) history of diabetes and the risk of incident CVD. Data from four prospective German cohort studies were used: EPIC-Potsdam study (n = 26,054), CARLA study (n = 1,079), SHIP study (n = 3,974), and KORA study (n = 15,777). A multivariable-adjusted Cox regression was performed to estimate associations between familial histories of diabetes, myocardial infarction or stroke and the risk of CVD in each cohort; combined hazard ratios (HRMeta) were derived by conducting a meta-analysis. The history of diabetes in first-degree relatives was not related to the development of CVD (HRMeta 0.99; 95% CI 0.88–1.10). Results were similar for the single outcomes myocardial infarction (MI) (HRMeta 1.07; 95% CI 0.92–1.23) and stroke (HRMeta 1.00; 95% CI 0.86–1.16). In contrast, parental history of MI and stroke were associated with an increased CVD risk. Our study indicates that diabetes in the family might not be a relevant risk factor for the incidence of CVD. However, the study confirmed the relationship between a parental history of MI or stroke and the onset of CVD.
Highlights
History of diabetes is a well-known and strong risk factor for the onset of d iabetes[1,2] and was included in many of the published diabetes prediction models3,4
In EPIC-Potsdam and CARLA, participants with a positive family history were slightly younger than participants with a negative family history, in contrast to Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) and KORA
The results of the present analyses based on four population-based German cohorts do not support that diabetes in the family is a relevant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases (MI and/or stroke)
Summary
History of diabetes is a well-known and strong risk factor for the onset of d iabetes[1,2] and was included in many of the published diabetes prediction models. History of diabetes is a well-known and strong risk factor for the onset of d iabetes[1,2] and was included in many of the published diabetes prediction models3,4 This is dependent on the number of affected relatives and the degree of relationship. The history of diabetes in male relatives was associated with a 1.4-fold (95% CI 1.1–1.7) higher risk for subclinical a therosclerosis[11] As these findings were derived from cross-sectional studies and restricted to intermediate cardiometabolic markers, it remains controversial whether a family history of diabetes has any effect on the risk of future CVD. To confirm the general validity of the study findings, the present study investigated the well-known association between familial histories of stroke and MI with incident CVD
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