Background:
The Screening for Asymptomatic Coronary Heart disease in the Siblings of young
Myocardial Infarction patients study (SACHSMI) investigated the association
between index myocardial infarction patient sibling(s) and obstructive coronary heart
disease as detected by coronary computer tomography angiography (CCTA). The
results of SACHSMI described a statistically significant association between smoking
and prevalence of stenosis detected by CCTA. Data is lacking, however, regarding
CCTA screening effects on smoking habits of young individuals.
Methods:
Fifty asymptomatic siblings of prospectively identified index myocardial infarction
patients, aged 55 years or younger, were screened. These 50 sibling participants
were shown and explained their CCTA results. The participants were followed using
telephone call at 1 and 12 months after screening to assess any change in their
smoking habits. The primary outcome of interest was to identify any change in
smoking habit among the participants of the SACHSMI study undergoing CCTA 1
and 12 months post scanning.
Results:
Of the 50 participants, 20 (40%) had a history of smoking. One month post CCTA, 12
(60%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 36% to 81%) participants either stopped
smoking (7/20 (35%; 95% CI: 15% to 59%)) or reduced (5/20 (25%; 95% CI: 9% to
49%)) the number of cigarettes smoked daily. At 12 months post CCTA, 11 (55%;
95% CI: 32% to 77%) participants either stopped smoking (6/20 (30%; 95% CI: 12%
to 54%)) or reduced (5/20 (25%; 95% CI: 9% to 49%)) the number of cigarettes
smoked daily.
Conclusions:
Screening individuals with family history of premature CHD via CCTA may have the
additional benefit of reducing smoking in the short term.
Family history of premature coronary heart disease and risk prediction in the EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study
