To determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia and lipoprotein abnormalities among siblings of young acute myocardial infarction patients.

Abstract

Introduction: Despite all available theoretical assumptions, there is no study defining the prevalence of lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities among siblings of young acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients. This is the first such study. Methods: This was a case-control study. A total 110 siblings of young acute MI patients (Group A) and 50 healthy young controls (Group B) were studied for a duration of 2 years. Clinical profiles included age, sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia for both cases and controls.The primary objective was to study the prevalence of dyslipidemia and lipoprotein abnormalities. The secondary objective was to study the prevalence of conventional risk factors among siblings of young (<45 years) acute MI patients. Results: On analyzing lipid profiles, it was found that total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, ApoB100, ApoB100: ApoA-1 ratio, and lipoprotein (a) were significantly raised in Group A in comparison to Group B. On studying conventional risk factors, it was observed that history of smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and increased waist circumference were more prevalent in Group A in comparison to Group B. Conclusion: Conventional atherosclerotic risk factors, lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities were significantly more prevalent in siblings of young acute MI patients in comparison to healthy controls and may be an answer to the possible cause of familial clustering in young MI emphasizing the importance of familial screening. Therefore, intensive efforts should be made to identify and alter modifiable risk factors in these cases.