Hereditary Heart Disease Algorithm (My Family Health Portrait Web-Based Tool)

At a glance

This page provides the algorithm for hereditary heart disease for the My Family Health Portrait (MFHP) web-based tool. This algorithm assesses risk based only on family health history and does not account for other factors that affect risk, such as age, body mass index, eating habits, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use.

Computer monitors with code and a broken heart.

Personal and family health history risk factors for "Increased Risk" result

  1. You have or have had heart disease (angina, coronary artery disease, heart attack, or other heart disease).
  2. You had a stroke.
  3. You have or have had diabetes (diabetes, maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or unknown diabetes) at any age.
  4. You have high blood pressure (hypertension).
  5. You have high cholesterol (including familial hypercholesterolemia).
  6. A male relative had heart disease (any subgroup: angina, coronary artery disease, heart attack, or other heart disease) before age 50 or a female relative had heart disease before age 60.
  7. A male relative had a stroke/brain attack before age 50 or a female relative had a stroke/brain attack before age 60.
  8. A relative (male or female) had familial hypercholesterolemia at any age.
  9. A relative (male or female) had diabetes (diabetes, maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or unknown diabetes) at any age.
  10. Sudden death (due to heart problem) of a male relative before age 50 or a female relative before age 60.

If any of 1-10 are positive, result is "Increased Risk."

Risk assessment output

Output lists all risk factors. Red circle with "X" means that you have the risk factor. Green circle with checkmark means that you don't have the risk factor.

Messages appear at the bottom of the list and vary according to which risk factors you have:

#1 is positive and #2–10 are negative

Your mother, father, brothers, sisters, and children may be more likely to have coronary heart disease. Make sure you share your history of heart disease with them. Talk to your doctor about getting checked for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Controlling these conditions can be important for managing your heart disease.

#1 is negative and one or more of #2–10 are positive

You might be more likely to develop heart disease because of your personal or family health history. Tell your doctor about any family members with heart disease, stroke, familial hypercholesterolemia, or diabetes. Include male family members who died suddenly due to heart problems before age 50 and female family members who died suddenly due to heart problems before age 60. If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, controlling these conditions can make you less likely to develop heart disease.

#1 is positive and one or more of #2–10 are positive

You have heart disease and a related condition or a family history of heart disease or a related condition. Tell your doctor about any family members with heart disease, stroke, familial hypercholesterolemia, or diabetes. Include male family members who died suddenly due to heart problems before age 50 and female family members who died suddenly due to heart problems before age 60. If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, controlling these conditions can be important for managing your heart disease.

#1–10 are negative

You do not have a family history of heart disease.

Algorithm based on information from

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