Use of the Isolated Norfolk Island Population for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Trait Genetic Analysis

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major public health issue and a disorder that accounts for over half of all deaths in Western countries. Many important risk factors for cardiovascular disease have been identified, with environmental factors, such as diet, smoking, bodyweight, blood pressure, lipid levels and exercise involvement, have shown to be important in cardiovascular predisposition. However, CVD and its associated risk traits display both environmental and genetic components. A family history has been shown to one of the most important risk factors for disease development, emphasising the role of genetic predisposition. This study aimed to investigate the role of genetic and environmental risk factors in this common life threatening disorder including a focus on blood pressure, lipid and body mass variation. To investigate these factors a unique isolated founder effect population from Norfolk Island was studied.