Sibling Death in Childhood and Early Adulthood and Risk of Early-Onset Cardiovascular Disease

• DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.50814
• Publication Date: 2024-01-08T16:01:18Z
• Authors: Chen Huang; Jiahuan Peng; Priscilla Ming Yi...; Ce Wang; Kecheng Wei; Minhong Liang; Guoyou Qin; Yongfu Yu; Jiong Li
• Keywords: Cumulative incidence

Importance Sibling death is a highly traumatic event, but empirical evidence on the association of sibling in childhood and early adulthood with subsequent risk incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains limited. Objective To evaluate between decades life early-onset CVD. Design, Setting, Participants This population-based cohort study included 2 098 659 individuals born Denmark from 1978 to 2018. Follow-up started at age 1 year or date first sibling’s birth, whichever occurred later, it ended diagnosis CVD, death, emigration, December 31, 2018, came first. Data analyses were conducted November 1, 2021, through January 10, 2022. Exposures The sibling. Main Outcomes Measures outcome was Cox models used estimate hazard ratios (HRs) 95% CIs. Results (1 076 669 [51.30%] male; median [IQR] sibling, 11.48 [4.68-21.32] years). During (IQR) follow-up 17.52 (8.85-26.05) years, 1286 76 862 bereaved nonbereaved groups, respectively, diagnosed associated 17% increased overall CVD (HR, 1.17; CI, 1.10-1.23; cumulative incidence individuals, 1.96% [1.61%-2.34%]; 41 1.35% [1.34%-1.37%]; difference: 0.61% [95% 0.24%-0.98%]). Increased risks also observed for most type-specific CVDs, particular myocardial infarction 1.66; 1.12-2.46), ischemic heart 1.52; 1.22-1.90), failure 1.50; 1.00-2.26). whether died due 2.54; 2.04-3.17) non-CVD 1.13; 1.06-1.19) causes. more pronounced who lost twin younger 1.25; 1.15-1.36) than an elder 1.11; 1.03-1.20). Conclusions Relevance In this Danish population, strength associations varying by cause difference pairs. findings highlight need extra attention support siblings reduce later life.