title: How useful is a family history of hypertension as a predictor of future hypertension?
abstract: A hypothetical model for predicting hypertension is discussed. Assuming that being in the top quintiles of the blood pressure distribution at adolescence and/or having a family history of hypertension, the estimated risk for developing hypertension as an adult could be 37% in a population with a prevalence of hypertension on 20%. Using the blood pressure level in adolescence and/or positive family history of hypertension as a predictive "test", the sensitivity of this "test" is 65% and the specificity 73%.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012306:Risk