Probing genetic overlap in the regulation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in Danish and Chinese twins.
Although the phenotypic correlation between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is well known, the genetic basis for the correlation has rarely been investigated. The aim of this paper is to examine the genetic overlap between SBP and DBP by fitting bivariate models to Danish and Chinese twins and comparing ethnic differences between the two samples. Our estimates revealed a high proportion of additive genetic components shared by both SBP and DBP in Danish (0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65-0.75) and Chinese (0.62, 95% CI: 0.50-0.71) twins with no statistically significant ethnic differences. The estimated genetic component in phenotypic correlation could serve to guide molecular genetic studies searching for genetic variants that affect both SBP and DBP. The bivariate model also estimated genetic and environmental contributions to SBP and DBP separately, with an overall pattern of higher genetic regulation or heritability in Danish (0.72, 95% CI: 0.67-0.76 for SBP; 0.70, 95% CI: 0.65-0.75 for DBP) than in Chinese (0.54, 95% CI: 0.44-0.63 for SBP; 0.57, 95% CI: 0.47-0.65 for DBP) twins and a higher contribution from unique environmental factors in Chinese compared with Danish twins. The estimated contribution from unique environmental factors suggests that promoting healthy lifestyles may provide an efficient way of controlling high blood pressure, particularly in the Chinese population.
Unit of Human Genetics, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Shuxia
S
Li
Qingdao Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China.
Zengchang
Z
Pang
Department of Public Health, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, China.
Dongfeng
D
Zhang
Qingdao Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China.
Haiping
H
Duan
Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Jacob
J
von Bornemann Hjelmborg
1] Unit of Human Genetics, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark [2] Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark [3] Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Qihua
Q
Tan
1] Unit of Human Genetics, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark [2] Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Torben Arvid
TA
Kruse
Institute for Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark and Odense Patient Data Explorative Network (OPEN), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Kirsten Ohm
KO
Kyvik
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China; D003718:Denmark; D003971:Diastole / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D013599:Systole / Q000235:genetics*; D014427:Twins; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult