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Guidelines and Tools to Assess Family History of Common DiseasesValue of Family HistoryIntroductionIt is now known that people who have a family history of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer in close relatives are more likely to develop these diseases. Having a first degree relative with any one of these disease has been shown to double that person's risk of developing the disease, with the risk increasing when there are more affected relatives, and if the disease was diagnosed at an early age. All healthcare providers generally collect family history information and need to take advantage of this information to offer specific clinical prevention and management interventions for those diseases that run in the patient's family. Examples of prevention activities include:
Screening and prevention guidelines based on family history are now available for many common diseases, and evidence is building regarding the effectiveness of these strategies for high-risk individuals. From Genomics and Population Health: United States 2003 [cdc.gov] Additional Information: Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2007: Recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force [ahrq.gov] For your patients: Your Disease Risk: The Source On Prevention [yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu Guidelines and Tools for Six Common DiseasesTop of page Posted: August 21, 2008 |
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