The management of the family at high risk for coronary heart disease.

The family at risk has at least one member who has (1) hyperlipidemia; (2) low HDL2-cholesterol; (3) essential hypertension; (4) a family history of premature CHD; or (5) actively smokes. The predictive value of CHD risk factors in adults is well documented and quantified. Familial aggregation, genetic studies, and tracking of blood pressure provide evidence that children born to families with a high prevalence of hypertension or who as adolescents track in the upper part of the blood pressure distribution are themselves at risk for hypertension. Similarly, familial aggregation, tracking, and autopsy studies provide evidence for the relationship of serum lipids to the subsequent development of coronary atherosclerosis. Smoking by parents adversely affects the hearts and lungs of children. In addition, the child with a parent who smokes is more likely to become an active smoker. Preventive strategies are now available to the pediatrician to reduce the risk of premature CHD.