Genetic factors in familial aggregation of blood pressure of Portuguese nuclear families.
BACKGROUND
Despite of the increase in the prevalence of hypertension in Portugal, the importance of genetic factors in blood pressure (BP) has not been studied extensively in our country.


OBJECTIVE
To verify the indirect presence of vertical transmission of genetic factors between parents and children in BP values, and to estimate the magnitude of genetic factors contributing for variation in BP values in the population.


METHODS
Sample size comprises 367 individuals (164 parents and 203 children) pertaining the 107 nuclear families participating in 'Familias Activas' project, proceeding from different regions of North Portugal. The BP was measured with Omron model M6 (HEM-7001-E) digital device. SPSS 15.0 was used for data analysis; PEDSTATS was used to verify the structure of each family data. Familial correlations and heritability estimates were computed in FCOR and ASSOC modules of S.A.G.E. version 5.3.


RESULTS
For systolic BP (SBP), correlation values were low to moderate (0.21< or = r < or =0.35); for diastolic BP (DBP) values were found to be moderate (0.24< or = r < or =0. 50). Genetic factors explain 43 and 49% of the total variation in SBP and DBP, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A moderate amount of the SBP and the DBP is accounted for by genetic factors.
Fermino
Rogério César
RC
Laboratório de Cineantropometria e Gabinete de Estatística Aplicada, Faculdade de Desporto, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Seabra
André
A
Garganta
Rui
R
Maia
José António Ribeiro
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000208:ethnology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult