Table 1. Summary of Studies Evaluating Sensitivity and Specificity of Family History

Study, year Population -
N, age
Method Thresholda Sensitivity Specificity Number eligible for screening (based on population of 1,000)b Number missed (based on population of 1,000)b Comments
Bell, 199061 1,140 5th graders Family history of high cholesterol or MI < age 60 in parent or grandparent
Non-fasting TC > 200 mg/dL 64% 47% 540 46  
1,140 5th graders As above, plus family history of stroke, angina or hypertension
Non-fasting TC > 200 mg/dL 77% 24% 760 31  
Davidson, 199162 1,118 4th graders Family history from parents (regarding parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles); early MI defined as < age 56 for men and women  TC > 200  mg/dL 41% 68% 330 83 RR of 48%
1,118 4th graders Parental questionnaire, definition using AAP criteria for early CHD (< age 50 for men, < age 60 for women)
TC > 200  mg/dL 31% 66% 330 96  
Dennison, 198972
1,214, ages 4-10, Bogalusa Heart Study Parental questionnaire asking parental history of any vascular disease (CHD, HTN, diabetes, stroke) Fasting TC > 95th percentile  38% for W; 27% for AA 73% for W; 65% for AA N/A N/A  
2,099, ages 11-17, Bogalusa Heart Study Parental questionnaire asking parental history of any vascular disease (CHD, HTN, diabetes, stroke) Fasting TC > 95th percentile  59% for W; 25% for AA 67% for W; 56% for AA N/A N/A  
1,214,ages 4-10, Bogalusa Heart Study Parental questionnaire asking parental history of any vascular disease (CHD, HTN, diabetes, stroke) Fasting LDL > 95th percentile 41% for W; 20% for AA 73% for W; 63% for AA N/A N/A  
2,099, ages 11-17, Bogalusa Heart Study Parental questionnaire asking parental history of any vascular disease (CHD, HTN, diabetes, stroke) Fasting LDL > 95th percentile 37% for W; 22% for AA
67% for W; 56% for AA N/A N/A  
Diller, 199563 232, ages 2-19, Cincinnati MI Hormone Study Parental questionnaire using NCEP definition of family history of premature CVD LDL > 130 mg/dL 17% 75% 246 207  
232, ages 2-19, Cincinnati MI Hormone Study Parental questionnaire asking family history of cholesterol > 240 LDL > 130 mg/dL 61% 74% 293 99  
232, ages 2-19, Cincinnati MI Hormone Study Both family history of elevated cholesterol and premature CVD LDL > 130 mg/dL 74% 55% 478 65  
232, ages 2-19, Cincinnati MI Hormone Study Other indicators: obesity, smoking, use of lipid raising medications, high fat diet, HTN LDL > 130 mg/dL 17.4% for obesity, 9-48% for others 86% for obesity, 69-95% for others 547 86  
232, ages 2-19, Cincinnati MI Hormone Study Family history of premature CHD (NCEP definition), TC > 240 mg/dL, or any other risk factor (obesity, smoking, lipid raising medication, high fat diet or HTN). LDL > 130 mg/dL 96% 28% 746 13  
Gagliano, 199364 224, ages 11-20 Family history of early MI (< age 50 for men, < age 60 for women) or elevated lipids (TC > 200 mg/dL), history obtained from adolescent TC > 85th percentile for gender 36% 69% 320 94  
224, ages 11-20 Family history as above, history obtained from parent TC above the 85th percentile for gender 65% 46% 589 54  
224, ages 11-20 Use of combined family history from adolescent and parent TC above the 85th percentile for gender 45% 69% 361 80  
Griffin, 198965 1,005, ages 2-13, 8 office practices Parent and grandparent history of hypercholesterolemia or CHD < age 55 Fasting LDL > 95th percentile 46% NR N/A 147  
1,005, ages 2-13, 8 office practices Parent and grandparent history of any risk factor or complication (hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, HTN, gout, obesity and atherosclerosis prior to age 55) Fasting LDL > 95th percentile 78%

NR N/A 59  
1,005, ages 2-13, 8 office practices Parent and grandparent history of hypercholesterolemia or CHD < age 55 Fasting LDL > 90th percentile 51% 63% 385 48 51% of children with elevated LDL would have been detected by AAP screening criteria.; specificity calculated.
1,005, ages 2-13, 8 office practices Any history of parent or grandparent with a risk factor or complication (hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, HTN, gout, obesity and atherosclerosis prior to age 55) Fasting LDL > 90th percentile 80%
38% for high cholesterol alone
31% for obesity
18% for sudden death
17% for gout
13% for PVD
37% 650 20 specificity calculated
1,005, ages 2-13, 8 office practices Overweight (weight for height >> 95th percentile) plus family history of early CHD or hypercholesterolemia Fasting LDL > 90th percentile 57% NR N/A 42  
1,005, ages 2-13, 8 office practices Overweight (weight for height > 95th percentile) plus family history any risk factor or complication Fasting LDL > 90th percentile 84% 31.0% 704 16 specificity calculated
Muhonen, 199466 599, ages 14-20, Muscatine, IA Parental history of high cholesterol Highest decile of fasting TC 34% 76% N/A N/A "unsure" responses were not included in calculations of sensitivity/specificity
599, ages 14-20, Muscatine, IA Parental history of high cholesterol Highest decile of fasting LDL 34% 76% N/A N/A  
599, ages 14-20, Muscatine, IA Parental history of high cholesterol Lowest decile of fasting HDL 26% 75% N/A N/A  
O'Loughlin, 200473 2,217, ages 9, 13, and 16, Quebec Parental questionnaire asking personal history of 1) high cholesterol 2) medications for cholesterol 3) heart attack, angina, 4) stroke, CVD or PVD or 5) medications for the heart; unknown family history coded as negative Fasting LDL > 109 mg/dL ("borderline") 33% 76% 256 44  
2,217, ages 9, 13, and 16, Quebec Parental questionnaire asking personal history of 1) high cholesterol 2) medications for cholesterol 3) heart attack, angina, 4) stroke, CVD or PVD or 5) medications for the heart; unknown family history coded as negative Fasting LDL > 131.5 mg/dL, ("high") 41% 75% 256 12  
2,217, ages 9, 13, and 16, Quebec Parental questionnaire asking personal history of 1) high cholesterol 2) medications for cholesterol 3) heart attack, angina, 4) stroke, CVD or PVD or 5) medications for the heart; unknown family history excluded Fasting LDL > 109 mg/dL, ("borderline") 42% 70% N/A 85  
2,217, ages 9, 13, and 16, Quebec Parental questionnaire asking personal history of 1) high cholesterol 2) medications for cholesterol 3) heart attack, angina, 4) stroke, CVD or PVD or 5) medications for the heart; unknown family history excluded Fasting LDL > 131.5 mg/dL, ("high") 51% 69% N/A 19  
Primrose, 199467 1,012, ages 12-15, Ireland History of stroke, angina or heart attack in either parent at any age or in 1st degree grandparents, uncles or aunts < age 55. Questionnaires completed by parents
Non-fasting TC > 95th percentile according to LRC 33% 72% 293 125  
Resnicow, 199368 574, elementary school age Parental cholesterol > 240 in 1 parent only with known and reported value by that parent Non-fasting TC > 200 mg/dL 10% 91% 90 106  
Rifai, 199633 260, ages 12-20, AA Family history of early CHD or hyperlipidemia Fasting LDL > 110 mg/dL 10% NR 365 184 37% targeted for screening based on AAP/NCEP recommendations
Sanchez Bayle, 199269 2,224, ages 2-18, Spain Parental history of MI Fasting TC > 200 mg/dL 7% 96% 49 140  
2,224, ages 2-18, Spain Parental history of MI Fasting LDL > 135 mg/dL 9% 96% 49 101  
2,224, ages 2-18, Spain Parental history of stroke, HTN, diabetes, or hypercholesterolemia (but not MI) Fasting TC > 200 mg/dL 14% 90% 98 129  
2,224, ages 2-18, Spain Parental history of stroke, HTN, diabetes, or hypercholesterolemia (but not MI) Fasting LDL > 135 mg/dL 14% 91% 98 95  
Shea, 199034
108, ages 4-5, Hispanic, Study of Childhood Activity & Nutrition AAP definition (maternal hypertension, diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia or family history of premature CHD or hyperlipidemia) Fasting TC > 170 mg/dL 57% 59% 493 148 accuracy 58%
108, ages 4-5, Hispanic, Study of Childhood Activity & Nutrition AHA and NIH Consensus Conference definition (history of hyperlipidemia or premature CHD in the child's parent, aunt, uncle or grandparent) Fasting TC > 170 mg/dL 46% 70% 352 185 accuracy 62%
108, ages 4-5, Hispanic, Study of Childhood Activity & Nutrition NCEP guidelines (history of MI or sudden death in the child's parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparent; CHD prior to age 55). Fasting TC > 170 mg/dL 5% 92% 74 324 accuracy 62%
Steiner, 199170 1,001, ages 12-21 (38% Hispanic, 33.5% W, 15% AA, 11% Asian), Kaiser population AAP 1998 criteria (known hyperlipidemia in parent or sibling, known MI/angina, current corticosteroid use, juvenile diabetes, hypothyroidism, renal/endocrine/hepatic disease in teenager) Non-fasting TC > 200 mg/dL,
repeated fasting TC if initial test > 200 mg/dL, repeated a 3rd time if more than 30 mg/dL variability between the 1st two measurements
63% 60% 400 24 1/3 of 1/2 of teenagers with elevated cholesterol levels would have been missed by family history target screening alone
Troxler, 199171 110 mostly Hispanic senior high school students Questionnaires completed with parental assistance; family history in parents or grandparents of high cholesterol or CHD age < 55 (AAP) Fasting TC > 75th percentile (175 mg/dL) 38% 79% 218 245  
Wadowski, 199474 300 AA, ages 2-14 Family history of CHD in parent or grandparent at age < 55 Fasting TC > 215 mg/dL 59% 72% 327 23  

Notes:
a. If not explicitly stated, values are mixed non-fasting/fasting or not reported.
b. Number eligible for screening and number missed were calculated from available data. In some cases, reported data did not allow for these calculations (these indicated with N/A).

Abbreviations:
AA = African American, AAP = American Academy of Pediatrics, AHA = American Heart Association, CHD = Coronary heart disease, CVD = Cardiovascular disease, HTN = Hypertension, LDL = Low-density lipoprotein, LRC = Lipid Research Clinic, MI = Myocardial infarction, N/A = Not applicable, NCEP = National Cholesterol Education Program, NIH = National Institutes of Health, PVD = Peripheral vascular disease, TC = Total cholesterol, W = White.

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