Table 1.

Algorithms for assessing disease risk based solely on FH

DISEASELEVEL OF FH RISK: SELF-REPORTFH RISK ASSESSMENT ALGORITHM: SELF-REPORTLEVEL OF FH RISK: EMRFH RISK ASSESSMENT ALGORITHM: EMRRECOMMENDED SCREENING
Diabetes21AverageDoes not fit into elevated categoryAverageDoes not fit into elevated categoryFPG level measured every 3 y starting at age 40 y
ElevatedFirst-degree relative with diabetesElevatedFirst-degree relative with diabetesFPG level measured every y
CAD22AverageDoes not fit into elevated categoryAverageDoes not fit into elevated categoryNA
ElevatedFirst-degree relative diagnosed with CAD* at age < 60 yElevatedFirst-degree relative diagnosed with CAD* at age < 60 yNA
BC23AverageDoes not fit into elevated category (either moderate- or high-risk category)AverageNo FH of BC or ovarian cancerMammogram every 2 y for women aged 50–69 y
Elevated: moderate risk1 first- or second-degree relative with BC at age 35–49 y OR 2 first- or second-degree relatives on the same side of the family with BC at age < 70 yElevatedAny relative with BC or ovarian cancerMammogram every y for women aged 40–69 y
Elevated: high risk3 relatives on same side of the family with BC OR 2 first- or second-degree relatives on same side of the family with BC at age < 50 y OR 1 first- or second-degree relative with any of BC at age < 35 y or ovarian cancer at any age OR 1 male relative with BC OR first- or second-degree Ashkenazi Jewish relative with BC at age < 50 y
CRC24,25AverageNo FH of CRCAverageNo FH of CRCFOBT every 2 y or sigmoidoscopy every 5 y or colonoscopy every 10 y starting at age 50 y
Low: slightly increased riskMight have 1 second- or third-degree relative with CRC
Elevated: mildly increased risk1 first-degree relative with CRC at age > 60 y OR ≥ 2 second-degree relatives from same side of the family with CRCElevatedAny relative with CRCFOBT every 2 y or colonoscopy every 10 y starting at age 40 y
Elevated: moderate to high risk1 first-degree relative with CRC at age ≤ 60 y OR ≥2 first-degree relatives with CRC at any ageColonoscopy every 5 y starting at age 40 y or 10 y earlier than age of youngest family member at time of diagnosis, which ever comes first
  • BC—breast cancer, CAD—coronary artery disease, CRC—colorectal cancer, EMR—electronic medical record, FH—family history, FOBT—fecal occult blood testing, FPG—fasting plasma glucose, NA—not applicable.

  • * CAD included angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and CAD.