Familial transmissability of early age at initial diagnosis in coronary heart disease (CHD): males only, and mediated by psychosocial/emotional distress?

Abstract

In equal sized samples, a strong association between a positive Family History of Early Coronary Heart Disease (FamHx) and early Age at Initial Diagnosis (AAID) was found only for males, and thus all further analyses were restricted to males. All three scales of the self-report version of the Ketterer Stress Symptom Frequency Checklist--Revised (KSSFCR)--"AIAI" (or aggravation, irritation, anger, and impatience), Depression, and Anxiety--were associated with both a positive FamHx and early AAID. A series of regression models was used to demonstrate that the KSSFCR scales may plausibly account for 22-32% of the variance in the relationship between a positive FamHx and early AAID. Because of previously documented denial in males, the analyses were repeated in a subgroup of males for whom Spouse/Friend KSSFCRs were obtained. Spouse/Friend-reported AIAI was related to both early FamHx and early AAID, and could account for 68% of the common variance.