Family History

Family history of cancer was a significant independent driver of genetic testing uptake. Potential statin benefit may be greater in higher-risk people even when statin efficacy is viewed skeptically. Among non-subsidised patients, having affected first-degree relatives was associated with higher uptake than having no family history. Second-degree family history had weaker associations with uptake than first-degree family history. Premature heart disease includes heart complications, major cardiovascular events, or deaths at relatively young ages. Having a child with cancer was described as the strongest family-history motivator for testing. Death of a family member from cancer was associated with emotional urgency and fear as testing motivators. Family history is an important part of assessing cardiovascular risk. Strong family history and genetically high cholesterol can make inherited risk difficult to overcome fully through lifestyle alone.