Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention  
Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention

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Family History for Preventive Medicine and Public Health
The CDC Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention (OGDP) in collaboration with several CDC programs and National Institutes of Health (NIH) has embarked on a public health initiative to evaluate whether family history information can be used to assess risk for common diseases and influence early detection and prevention strategies.

 
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May 1-2, 2002
Family History as a Tool for Public Health and Preventive Medicine
Family history of specific diseases reflects the consequences of genetic susceptibilities, shared environment, and common behaviors.

 
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Family History Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

Family History for Preventive Medicine an Public Health
Family history is known to be a risk factor for many chronic diseases—including coronary heart disease, cancer, and diabetes—but its use in preventive medicine has been de-emphasized relative to “modifiable” risk factors like smoking and diet.

 
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Family History as a Tool for Public Health and Preventive Medicine: A Public Health Perspective (March 2003)
This Public Health Perspective contains information and resources for public health professionals about the potential for using family history as a tool for improving health and preventing or delaying the onset of common, chronic diseases.

 
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Clinical application of genetic risk assessment strategies for coronary artery disease: genotypes, phenotypes, and family history [PubMed Abstract]
Maren T. Scheuner  
Prim Care 2004 Sep; 31(3): 711-37

Family history of heart disease and cardiovascular disease risk-reducing behaviors
McCusker ME et al. Genet Med 2004;6:153-158

Family history of heart disease and cardiovascular disease risk-reducing behaviors PDF Only
McCusker, ME. et al.
Genetics in Medicine
. 6(3):153-158, May/June 2004

Contribution of Mendelian Disorders to Common Chronic Disease: Opportunities for Recognition, Intervention and Prevention PDF Only
Maren T. Scheuner, Paula W. Yoon and Muin J. Khoury
Am J Med Genet. 2004 Feb 15;125C(1):50-65

The Family History Public Health Initiative, Genomics and Population Health: United States 2003 Report

Family History Assessment:  Strategies for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Steven C. Hunt, Marta Gwinn and Ted D. Adams American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2003; 24(2):136-142

Research Priorities for Evaluating Family History in the Prevention of Common Chronic Diseases
Paula W. Yoon, Maren T. Scheuner and Muin J. Khoury American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2003; 24(2):128-135

Using Decision Analytic Methods to Assessthe Utility of Family History Tools
Anupam Tyagi and Jill Morris American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2003; 24(2):199-207

Can family history be used as a tool for public health and preventive medicine?
Yoon, Paula et al. Genetics in Medicine  2002; 4(4):304-310

Population-based estimates of the prevalence of family history of cancer among women
Ingrid J. Hall, Wylie Burke, Steven Coughlin, and Nancy C. Lee
Community Genetics November, 2001

Role of Family History in Personal Prevention Practices among US Women Physicians
Mona Saraiya, et al.  Community Genetics 2001;4: 102-108

Increased Risk for Familial Ovarian Cancer Among Jewish Women: A Population-Based Case-Control Study
Karen K. Steinberg, et al.  Genet Epidemiology 1998;15:51-59

Family History Score as a Predictor of Breast Cancer Mortality: Prospective data from the Cancer Prevention Study II, United States, 1982-1991
Quanhe Yang, et al. Am J Epidemiol. 1998 Apr 1;147(7):652-9

Helping high-risk families:  Medical and public health approaches
Summary: Scientists, policy makers, and public health officials are beginning to explore how genetic knowledge can be used to promote health and prevent Ann M. Malarcher, PhD, MSPH; Wayne H. Giles, MD, MS; Muin J. Khoury, MD, PhD

 
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Last Updated October 12, 2004