Coronary Artery Disease

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease, sometimes called CAD, is a type of heart disease typically caused by the buildup of plaque inside the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are important because they are the major blood vessels that supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood. 

When plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, the blood flow to the heart decreases. As plaque builds up over time, people can experience chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The heart can also become weak, which can lead to heart failure. If a piece of plaque inside an artery breaks off and a blood clot forms, this can cause a heart attack or stroke.  

Is coronary artery disease genetic? 

Genetics can play a role in coronary artery disease. A family history of coronary artery disease  can increase the chances of developing the condition (especially if a parent had a heart attack at a young age). 

What else impacts my chances of developing coronary artery disease? 

Other than genetics, there are other factors that can impact your chances of developing coronary artery disease. Maintaining a healthy weight and making healthy lifestyle choices can help lower the chances of developing the condition. Age is another factor—CAD becomes more common as people get older. Additionally, males are more commonly diagnosed with coronary artery disease, but females are likely underdiagnosed. Certain health conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes may impact the chances of developing CAD as well. 

Did you know?

Up to 16% of people in the U.S. are expected to develop coronary artery disease by their 70s. 

Explore more

23andMe’s Coronary Artery Disease report (Powered by 23andMe Research) can help you learn about what your genetics have to say about the likelihood of developing CAD. You can get this report and more with the 23andMe+ membership. 23andMe+ includes everything in our Health + Ancestry Service plus new premium reports and features throughout the year.

Please note:

• The Coronary Artery Disease report does not diagnose coronary artery disease and should not be used to make medical decisions.
• The report was developed by 23andMe scientists using data and insights gathered from thousands of customers who consent to participate in our research. Reports based on 23andMe research provide an estimate of your likelihood of developing a condition based on your genetics and other factors. This report does not account for lifestyle or family history.
• The report does not account for every possible genetic variant that could affect your likelihood of developing coronary artery disease.

References

Arnett DK et al. (2019). “2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.” J Am Coll Cardiol. 74(10):1376-1414. 

Benjamin EJ et al. (2019). “Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2019 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association.” Circulation. 139(10):e56-e528. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). “Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence & Trends Data.” Retrieved May 4, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/brfssprevalence/. 

Khera AV et al. (2017). “Genetics of coronary artery disease: discovery, biology and clinical translation.” Nat Rev Genet. 18(6):331-344. 

Lloyd-Jones DM et al. (2004). “Parental cardiovascular disease as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in middle-aged adults: a prospective study of parents and offspring.” JAMA. 291(18):2204-11. 

Mayo Clinic. “Coronary artery disease.” Retrieved August 1, 2019, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350613.