New study links genes to coronary heart disease risk

A study funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has discovered a number of genes that could be linked to a heightened risk of coronary heart disease.

Analysis of more than 100,000 European and South Asian people with differing heart health statuses has identified five genetic hotspots that were associated with an elevated chance of heart problems.

These variations were linked to small changes in DNA patterns, some of which occurred in genes that play a role in the regulation of cholesterol levels.

Following this discovery, scientists could gain greater understanding of hereditary traits that could affect heart health, while informing future efforts to combat the serious but preventable condition.

BHF senior cardiac nurse Ellen Mason said: "We hope to use these new discoveries to gain insight into how the disease develops and find new ways of preventing people getting coronary heart disease in the future."

Earlier this month, a British Medical Journal report suggested that patches of yellowing skin around the eyes could also be an indicator of heart attack risk.