Family letters are an effective way to inform relatives about inherited cardiac disease

Increasing numbers of individuals are being referred to cardiogenetics outpatient clinics with potentially inherited arrhythmia (ARR) or cardiomyopathy (CM). To inform relatives at‐risk, we ask index patients to distribute “family letters” containing information on the risks, possible genetic and other screenings, and preventive options. We assessed the responses to these letters in terms of referrals to a cardiologist and/or clinical geneticist. Fifty‐six index patients were asked to distribute 249 family letters: 85 in the ARR group and 164 in the CM group. Within a mean follow‐up period of 2 years (range 1–5 years) the number of relatives actually referred to the clinical geneticist and/or cardiologist was 57% (142 of 249). There was a significant difference (P