But this thought process begs the question: what if this person is the one who STARTS the history of high cholesterol, and subsequent increased heart-related mo

But this thought process begs the question: what if this person is the one who STARTS the history of high cholesterol, and subsequent increased heart-related mortality. Or following it the other way, only people with a history of this are at risk? It is statistical: there could be a person with no history who is at risk, the probability is lower, but nonzero.