Identification of Genes Contributing to Cardiovascular Disease in Overweight and Obese Individuals from West Virginia (Scientific Article) (Report‪)‬

Introduction Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death and premature disability in the United States. (1,2,3) In its most recent update on heart disease, the American Heart Association reported that 16.8 million US adults are afflicted with CAD and that the estimated CAD patient care costs for 2009 are $165 billion. (3) The primary cause of CAD is atherosclerosis, a progressive multifactorial disease characterized by the accumulation of lipids and fibrous elements in the large arteries. (4) Evidence from animal studies, epidemiological studies and clinical correlations strongly suggest a role for dietary cholesterol as an environmental promoter of atherosclerosis. (2,3) A genetic etiology for atherosclerosis is indicated by familial aggregation of the trait and heritability estimates of contributing factors (e.g. LDL- and HDL-cholesterol levels) that range from 20% to 80%. (2,5)