Which relatives should be included in a patient's pertinent family history?

Including parents, grandparents, and genetic siblings in a patient’s pertinent family history is essential because these relatives often share genetic material that can significantly affect the patient's health. This shared genetics can provide valuable insights into hereditary conditions, risk factors for various diseases, and possible outcomes of treatments.

Parents and grandparents represent direct lineage, where many hereditary conditions may manifest. For instance, if there is a history of glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other hereditary eye diseases among these relatives, it could indicate a higher risk for the patient. Genetic siblings also share a significant proportion of their DNA with patients, which can contribute to understanding any familial patterns of diseases or conditions, particularly those that may be passed down through generations.

In contrast, while including cousins and aunts may provide additional context for broader family health trends, they are generally considered less critical in understanding direct genetic inheritance compared to immediate family members. Similarly, while spouses and children are important in gathering a comprehensive family history, they do not share genetics in the same way that blood relatives do. Lastly, considering only family members over 50 might ignore younger relatives who could also provide valuable information about hereditary conditions. Therefore, the focus on direct lineage and genetic relationships makes the inclusion of parents, grandparents, and genetic siblings particularly