Utah’s Family High Risk Program: Bridging the Gap Between Genomics and Public Health

Preventing chronic disease

Joan Ware¹  LaDene Larsen¹  Steven C. Hunt¹  Rebecca T. Giles¹  MSPH¹  Jenny Johnson¹  Ted Adams¹ 

关键词: Rheumatoid arthritis;    hip;    computed tomography;    magnetic resonance imaging;    conventional radiography;    Spondyloarthritides;    hip;    computed tomography;    magnetic resonance imaging;    conventional radiography;    Ultrasound;    hip;    rheumatoid arthritis;    sp;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention * National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundFamily history is a simple yet powerful genomic tool that can identify individuals and entire populations at risk for diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Despite its use for predicting disease, family history has traditionally been underused in the public health setting.ContextA program for identifying families at risk for a variety of chronic diseases was implemented in Utah. Utah has population characteristics that are unique among the United States. Although the land area is large, most residents live within a relatively small geographic area. The religion of 70% of the residents encourages the recording of detailed family histories, and many families have accessto records dating back to the 1800s.MethodsFrom 1983 through 1999, the Utah Department of Health, local health departments, school districts, the University of Utah, and the Baylor College of Medicine implemented and conducted the Family High Risk Program, which identified families at risk for chronic diseases using the Health Family Tree Questionnaire in Utah high schools.ConsequencesThe collection of family history is a cost-effective method for identifying and intervening with high-risk populations. More than 80% of eligible families consented to fully participate in the program. A total of 80,611 usable trees were collected. Of the 151,188 Utah families who participated, 8546 families identified as high-risk for disease(s) were offered follow-up interventions.InterpretationThe program was revolutionary in design anddemonstrated that family history can bridge the gap between genetic advances and public health practice.

【 授权许可】

Unknown