The Bergen Blood Pressure Study: ambulatory blood pressure in subjects with an accurately defined family history of hypertension or normotension.
24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) was monitored by non-invasive methods in 42 offspring of hypertensive families (age [mean (SD1)] 40(7) years) and 38 offspring of normotensive families (age 33(6) years). The family history was defined according to parental BP data from two surveys conducted 27 years apart. Casual BP was 137(17)/84(12) mmHg in offspring of hypertensive families and 117(9)/69(6) mmHg in offspring of normotensive families (difference: p < 0.001). Average 24-h BP was 123(10)/74(6) mmHg and 113(8)/65(5) mmHg, respectively (difference: p < 0.001). The systolic and diastolic BP difference of approximately 10 mmHg was observed between the groups throughout the monitoring period. Hypertension--defined according to a recent meta-analysis as an average 24-h BP > or = 139/87 mmHg--was found in 6 offspring of hypertensive families and in no offspring of normotensive families (p < 0.05). The 24-h systolic and diastolic BP load--the percentage of readings above 140/90 mmHg (day-time) and 120/80 mmHg (night-time)--was higher in offspring of hypertensive than normotensive families (27%/17% vs. 7%4%; p < 0.001). After adjustment for intrafamilial covariation, age, and other possibly confounding variables, the differences between the groups remained. The present findings suggest that BP in subjects with a family history of hypertension is elevated on a permanent basis, and not only when it is measured in the doctor's office.
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Department for Heart Diseases, University of Bergen, School of Medicine, Haukeland Hospital, Norway.
Lund-Johansen
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Omvik
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors