Familial aggregation of blood pressure

Xiaoling Wang, Harold Snieder

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

A number of family studies in the 1960s and 1970s showed that a familial tendency to high (or low) blood pressure is established early in life. However, it remained unclear whether shared genes or shared environment caused the blood pressure aggregation within families. Special study designs such as adoption or twin studies are necessary to effectively discriminate genetic from shared environmental influences. Furthermore, estimates of the relative influence of genetic and environmental factors derived from cross-sectional studies do not provide information on underlying genetic and environmental sources of continuity and change in the development of (high) blood pressure from childhood onward. The aim of this chapter, therefore, is to review the available literature of twin and family studies to address two issues: the potential causes of familial aggregation of blood pressure and the age dependency of genetic or environmental sources of blood pressure variation (and covariation) within and between families.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationPediatric Hypertension
Subtitle of host publicationThird Edition
PublisherHumana Press Inc.
Pages195-209
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)9781627034906
ISBN (Print)9781627034890
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2013

Keywords

  • Age dependency
  • Family environment
  • Family study
  • Heritability
  • Twin study

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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