BOBBY BRADY'S REVENGE :

Firstborn Children at Higher Risk of Heart Disease (Reuters, Apr 26, 2002)

Italian researchers report that firstborn children have a higher risk of heart disease and a higher risk of cardiovascular death than their siblings. Dr. Maurizio Ferratini of the Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi in Milan presented his team's findings Wednesday at the American Heart Association's Asia Pacific Scientific Forum in Honolulu, Hawaii. In the study of 348 coronary heart disease patients admitted to their institution during a 30-month period, nearly half (46.7%) of the patients were firstborn, Ferratini reported. In contrast, about 29.3% of the population of Italy in general are firstborn, as opposed to being somewhere else in the sibling lineup. [...]

"We know that firstborns are different from their siblings in health, behavior, psychology, school achievement and personality," Ferratini said. "These differences may influence other health factors.... For example, more firstborn have type A personalities...this may influence risk of heart disease."

The other (and younger) Brother showed inordinate glee in forwarding this story. Posted by Orrin Judd at April 29, 2002 8:57 AM