Deck 18: Common Diseases With Genetic Linkages

Question 1

A client asks about the possibility of genetic testing for her children because diabetes is common in their family histories.Which information should the nurse consider before replying?

A)Genetic testing is currently most feasible for monogenetic diseases.
B)Genetic testing is nearly at the point of being financially available for the general public.
C)Genetics have been found to be a primary factor in the development of diabetes.
D)The association between risk of disease development and genetic profile is well suited for individual counseling.

Answer 1

Genetic testing is currently most feasible for monogenetic diseases.

Question 2

Which statements indicate the nurse has a good understanding of the genetic influence on hyperlipidemia?

A)"GWASs are not finding an association between gene variants and high LDL cholesterol."
B)"Up to 80% of the risk for high LDL levels may be genetically determined."
C)"SORT1 is associated with elevated LDL levels and coronary artery disease."
D)"No gene has been implicated in actual lethal disease state such as myocardial infarction."
E)"There is an LDLR variant that is associated with low LDL levels."

Answer 2

"SORT1 is associated with elevated LDL levels and coronary artery disease."
"There is an LDLR variant that is associated with low LDL levels."

Question 3

A nurse researcher is choosing diseases with high mortality and high prevalence as the focus for a study on the influence of family history on disease development.Which facts would suggest inclusion of a disease in this study?

A)One in three Americans has some form of cardiovascular disease.
B)An estimated 27% of all Americans over age 65 have diabetes.
C)Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.
D)Tobacco usage is thought to cost nearly $100 billion in medical care annually.
E)Almost half of adults in the United States have at least one chronic disease.

Answer 3

One in three Americans has some form of cardiovascular disease.
An estimated 27% of all Americans over age 65 have diabetes.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.

Question 4

A client has had difficulty achieving glycemic control with oral medications for Type 2 diabetes.Frustrated,the client says,"Isn't there some way to predict how my body will respond?" What is the nurse's best response?

A)"No one has studied that."
B)"Finding the correct medication and dose is a trial-and-error method."
C)"Some studies have been done,but they are not large enough to guide our treatment decisions."
D)"We are many years from having that kind of help from genetic studies."

Question 5

A nurse researcher is planning to study the relationship between racial background and the risk of developing the leading cause of death in the United States.The nurse would collect data on which group of diseases?

A)Renal insufficiency and failure
B)Cardiovascular illnesses
C)Communicable diseases
D)Cancer

Question 6

A nurse researcher investigating treatment options to decrease the risk of developing hypertension should consider which genetic information?

A)The genes responsible for most hypertension have been identified through candidate gene studies.
B)Many of the genes responsible for familial hypertension are also responsible for essential hypertension.
C)Hypertension is the disease process that exemplifies how complete knowledge of genetic transmission can be used to control progression.
D)GWAS of hypertension identified numerous genetic foci not previously associated with hypertension.

Question 7

A research team has selected a gene for study.The team hypothesizes that this gene is associated with the development of a particular form of renal disorder.How would the nurse describe this study in a grant proposal?

A)As a genome-wide association study (GWAS)
B)As a comparison study of people with and without the disease
C)As a candidate gene study
D)As a study that will investigate numerous epigenetic factors

Question 8

A nurse working in a diabetes clinic is planning a community program regarding the disease,particularly its known risk factors.Which information should the nurse include regarding genetic contribution to this disease?

A)Only about 12 genes have been linked to a higher risk for diabetes.
B)Diabetes risk genes are responsible for only about 10% of the risk of inheriting this disease.
C)An increased risk for developing diabetes is likely due to the interaction among many genes.
D)Inheritance is only one of the factors associated with increased risk for developing diabetes.
E)The environment may cause changes in some genes that make the development of diabetes more likely.

Question 9

A client says,"I know my family history puts me at risk for cardiovascular disease.What can I do to reduce my risk?" Which facts should the nurse consider when formulating a response?

A)Diet and physical activity contribute to the development of CVD.
B)As the American diet has become higher in calories and fat,the incidence of cardiovascular disease has increased.
C)The environment can trigger genetic changes that are outside the client's control.
D)Diet control and exercise should control genetic influences on disease development.
E)Epigenetic changes may or may not influence big differences in phenotype.

Question 10

A client states,"I knew I would get cancer someday.That is what killed my grandparents,my father,and one of my sisters." What is the nurse's best response?

A)"Were you all exposed to something in the environment at the same time?"
B)"Research does indicate that some families have a predisposition to cancer."
C)"Not too much is known about inheriting cancer."
D)"Often families develop the same risk factors,such as poor diet and smoking."

Question 11

A nurse is reviewing a male client's family history for the presence of cardiovascular disease.Which question is most important?

A)"Was it your mother or your father who had a myocardial infarction?"
B)"Did the person with cardiovascular disease smoke?"
C)"How old was your parent when the myocardial infarction occurred?"
D)"Did your parent survive the heart attack?"

Question 12

A client who was just diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus says,"I can't believe I have diabetes.I have always watched my diet and I exercise regularly." What is the nurse's best response?

A)"You probably could have eaten anything you wanted."
B)"Your genes just failed you."
C)"We are beginning to understand that genetics plays a big part in the development of Type 2 diabetes."
D)"Don't be ashamed to have diabetes.It is mostly an inherited disorder."

Question 13

A discussion of the future of risk prevention for common disease based on genetics would include which information?

A)Risk modification could be more specific to populations that share common ancestry.
B)Diseases could be identified at earlier stages because screening recommendations would be more specific.
C)Additional emphasis could be placed on the use of current well-validated risk calculators.
D)Disease prevention could be targeted to individuals.
E)Some current recommendations for risk reduction may be withdrawn for some populations.

Question 14

A 30-year-old client was diagnosed with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency after developing COPD.The client started smoking cigarettes at age 16.What risk prevention information should the nurse provide regarding the client's young children?

A)"If your children inherited this deficiency,they may develop COPD whether or not they smoke."
B)"It is probably too late to worry about exposing your children to passive smoke and increasing their risk."
C)"You should work with your children and their health care providers to discourage them from smoking."
D)"Maybe your children won't smoke when they realize how sick it has made you."

Question 15

A client has been using diet and exercise to try to reduce LDL cholesterol.Today's lab work reveals a 3% drop in LDL concentration in the last two months.Which nursing comment is indicated?

A)"You are probably going to have to go on medication to get your cholesterol under control."
B)"You need to eat less and exercise more."
C)"Some people have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol."
D)"Your risk for coronary heart disease has dropped by 3%."