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.