Key result
Distributing family letters to at-risk relatives of patients with inherited cardiac disease resulted in 57% of relatives being referred for screening, with higher rates in the arrhythmia group (80% vs 45.1%, P<0.01).
Why the study?
Does the distribution of family letters by index patients improve the referral rate of at-risk relatives for inherited cardiac disease screening?
Population
56 index patients with potentially inherited arrhythmia or cardiomyopathy and their 249 at-risk relatives
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
mean 2 years (range 1-5 years)
Authors
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Family letters may boost relative screening referrals in inherited cardiac disease; leaves open need for randomized outcome data.
Observational (n=249)
Does the distribution of family letters by index patients improve the referral rate of at-risk relatives for inherited cardiac disease screening?
Distributing family letters is an effective method to encourage at-risk relatives of patients with inherited cardiac diseases to undergo clinical screening.
Roest et al. (2009) conducted an observational in Inherited arrhythmia or cardiomyopathy (n=249). Family letters was evaluated on Referrals to a cardiologist and/or clinical geneticist. Distributing family letters to at-risk relatives of patients with inherited cardiac disease resulted in 57% of relatives being referred for screening, with higher rates in the arrhythmia group (80% vs 45.1%, P<0.01).
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