Empowering prevention of MI*
According to deCODE’s research (unpublished data) the effect of the identified genetic risk variants on chromosome 9 seems to be in addition to and independent of other known risk factors such as obesity, hypertension or elevated blood lipids, which themselves have their own partial genetic causes. This means that even though at this point in time there is no known specific remedy or actions that can be specifically taken to counteract the genetic risk associated with the variants on chromosome 9, the overall risk for MI can still be decreased through the conventional lifestyle interventions and specific treatments of disorders such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension. For a patient who carries the deCODE MI risk variants this is even more important in the light of his/her added risk.Family history of coronary artery disease and MI is known to be important risk factor that frequently prompts people to have them self evaluated for other risk factors or even the possible presence of coronary artery disease.
Many major lifestyle and environmental risk factors for MI are well known – among them smoking, hypertension, diabetes, elevated blood lipids, and obesity – and it is well established that addressing these risk factors to the extent possible can effectively reduce the risk of heart disease and MI. Inherited risk factors also influence individual susceptibility to MI. For those who are at increased risk due to lifestyle factors also understanding inherited risk factors such as that measured by deCODE MI™ may be especially important, underscoring the real potential benefit of a prevention program that involves quitting smoking, losing weight, eating right, and perhaps the use of certain medications, to help reduce the likelihood of developing MI.
Even though the biological effect associated with the CODE MI markers is not known, the importance of preventive measures for cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease and MI cannot be overemphasized. Knowing as much as possible about one's risk and about individual risk factors that something can be done about is imperative for taking actions to reduce ones risk. Family history of coronary artery disease and MI is known to be important risk factor that frequently prompts people to seek evaluation for other risk factors or even the possible presence of coronary artery disease. Independent of the family history for these diseases knowing ones genetic make-up in regard to deCODE’s genetic MI risk markers is relevant since they may be part of the familial risk or an addition to it.
The deCODE MI™ test therefore offers a new factor and added weight to the analysis of an individual’s risk for coronary artery disease and MI which may help the individual and his physician to decide on how aggressive they should be in modification of lifestyle and/or specific drug treatments.
.