Aims: The goal of this study is to assess the association between the metabolic syndrome(MS) and parental history of cardiovascular disease(CVD). Methods and results: Participants were recruited in a population survey of 3441 men and women, aged 35-64. MS was defined with NCEP-III guidelines. Familial history of myocardial infarction(MI), angina, and stroke was assessed with a standardized questionnaire. Parental premature CVD was defined if CVD occurred before 55/65 years in the father/mother. A total of 390 men and 281 women had MS. Positive parental CVD was associated with MS in women(43.0 vs. 36.8% , P< 0.001) but not in men(36.9 vs. 31.8% , P=0.06). Similarly, parental premature CVD was associated with MS in women(19.2 vs. 11.8% , P< 0.0007) but not in men(11.1 vs. 11.1% , ns). In women with MS, the age, centre, and educational level adjusted odds ratios [OR(95% CI)] of having a positive parental premature stroke was 1.84(1.0-3.38), P=0.049. This OR was 1.76(1.23-2.76), P=0.007 for combined parental premature MI and stroke and 1.67(1.17-2.38), P=0.004 for combined premature MI, stroke, and angina. After further adjustment on personal coronary heart disease and CVD risk factors, the ORs of having a positive parental history of combined premature MI and stroke [1.75(1.11-2.76), P=0.016] or MI, stroke, and angina [1.79(1.21-2.63), P=0.003], remained statistically significant, in women with MS. Conclusion: The MS is associated with parental premature CVD independently of classical CV risk factors, suggesting that MS is a contributor to the familial aggregation of premature CVD.
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