The hereditary factor is the only cause of cardiovascular disease at 200,000 Spaniards

-The family heart disease caused by a mutation of one or more genes and affect 1 of 250-300 children born

-today, the genetics is essential in the diagnosis of between 5% and 10% of heart disease; it is cases in which the genetic factor is crucial because that disease is caused by the alteration of a single gene. In other cases is a combination of genetics with environmental factors causing the disease

-the application of genetics in cardiology is essential both to detect the presence of family heart disease, and to customize the treatment of the disease

-En Spain, the practice of cardiovascular Genetics is growing, as well, since there are more than 50 centres that carry out genetic in our country. studies, initiatives of the Spanish society of Cardiology (SEC) as the heart family working group meeting or carrying out the first study on his deathBita in athletes, they are positioning our country as a pioneer in genetic research

Madrid, August of 2011- the Spanish Cardiology Society (SEC) reports that between 5% and 10% of cardiovascular diseases that occur in Spain are only due to a genetic cause. So are 200,000 people that could benefit from a diagnosis of the disease with a genetic study.

Cardiovascular diseases have a high hereditary component are known as family heart ”, affect 1 of 250-300 children live births and are transmitted from parents to children by 50 per cent of the cases. These diseases are closely related to the risk of sudden death and include the cardiomyopathies (dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive cardiomyopathy arritmogénica or dysplasia), canalopatías (long QT syndrome, syndrome of short QT, Brugada syndrome or catecolaminérgica polymorphic ventricular tachycardia) and other syndromes with involvement vascular such as YesMarfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz.

In cardiovascular diseases more common, such as ischemic heart disease or high blood pressure, the hereditary factor does not have an essential role, but certain genetic variants can be associated with environmental factors such as smoking, cholesterol or obesity to facilitate their development ”, emphasizes Dr. Lorenzo MonserratMember of the SEC and cardiologist of the University Hospital complex of A Coruña (CHUAC).

Anyway, it is known that the application of genetics in cardiology is essential to detect the presence of heart disease in time. We are making much progress with the sequencing of the human genome and molecular genetics, because we are allowing to identify other genes that will enable us to detecting other diseases as well as the familiar heart ”, points out Dr. Monserrat. Are also very promising for the improvement in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases advances in the field of pharmacogenetics, who studies the relationship between genetic factors and response to drugs, that they will allow us to treat diseases in a more personalized way ”.

Dr. Ramon Brugada, Member of the SEC, the Medical School of the University of Girona and director of Cardiovascular Genetics Center UdG-IDIBGI, stressed the importance of training in cardiovascular Genetics: although it has been proven that cardiovascular disease associated with genetic inheritance potential way affect 1 in every 300 peoplerare diseases, which are those that affect 1 out of every 2500 people are still considered. This is due to the fact that this type of heart disease require a specialization to be treated ”.

Although in Spain the first genetic studies began to perform at the beginning of the 1990s, has not been until just in the last five years the practice has spread widely. Currently are more than 50 centers that perform on a regular basis this type of study in our country.

In the field of cardiovascular genetics research, Spain is providing ever greater scientific knowledge. Our health structure allows us to evaluate adequately not only patients but also their families, and carry out impact studies in this field; Yet, needed more investment to achieve that, in addition to investigate, can be to apply this knowledge ”, warns Dr. Monserrat.

Since a few years ago, the Spanish society of Cardiology is positioning itself as one of the related entities in the investigation of the presence of the hereditary factor in cardiovascular disease. The heart family working group is thus one of the leaders in this field in Europe.

In addition, SEC is also making the first Spanish study of sudden death in athletes by which aims to bring together all cases of sudden death occurring in related Spain directly with the practice of sports, including exclusively cases of young athletes of age less than or equal to 35 years old to participate in any activity that requires a systematic training.

Seven million people living with this profile in Spain, estimated that there is an episode of sudden death per 300,000 people. It is estimated that study can get to pick between 40 and 50 cases of sudden death related to sport each year.

Spanish society of Cardiology (SEC)

The Spanish society of Cardiology (SEC) is a scientific and professional organization non-profit dedicated to increasing the State of knowledge about the heart and the circulatory system, to make progress in the prevention and treatment of their diseases and to improve survival and quality of life for heart patients.

The SEC has among its principal objectives contribute to research international, especially Europe and Latin America, creating national and international links for the development of actions and represent all interested professionals in the field of cardiology.