Association of family history of myocardial infarction or stroke with vascular parameters in healthy individuals: the EVasCu study and MUJER-EVA project.

Abstract

Background: The role of a family history of cardiovascular events in predisposing patients to cardiovascular diseases is recognized. Arterial stiffness, as measured by pulse wave velocity (PWv), is an emerging risk indicator. This study explores the association between a family history of cardiovascular events (i.e., myocardial infarction and stroke) and vascular and blood pressure parameters in healthy individuals.

Methods: The cross-sectional EVasCu study in Cuenca, Spain, enrolled 390 healthy adults. Vascular (aortic PWv [aPWv], cardio-ankle vascular index [CAVI], ankle-brachial index [ABI], augmentation index [AIx@75]) and blood pressure (systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], pulse pressure [PP]) parameters, as well as other covariates, were measured. ANOVA and ANCOVA were used to assess the association between family history of myocardial infarction and stroke and vascular and blood pressure parameters.

Results: The study group included 246 females and 144 males (Age: 42.05 ± 13.15 years). According to the unadjusted analyses, a family history of myocardial infarction was associated with increased SBP and PP (p = 0.015 and p = 0.012, respectively), with PP remaining significantly elevated in females (p = 0.003). These associations were largely attenuated after adjustment for sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables; however, PP remained significantly greater in females with a family history of myocardial infarction (p = 0.030), as supported by z score normalization (p = 0.036). Additionally, a family history of stroke was associated with significantly increased aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWv) in both the total sample and in females (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively), findings that remained significant after z score adjustment.

Conclusions: Arterial stiffness emerges as a potential bridge between genetic predisposition and cardiovascular risk. Recognizing the importance of a family history of cardiovascular events in risk assessment and leveraging noninvasive measures of arterial stiffness could refine preventive strategies.