Kuo-Liong Chien1, Chi-Yu Yang, Yuan-Teh Lee. 1. Graduate Institute of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Room 213, 19 Hsu Chow Road, Taipei, Taiwan 100. klchien@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tr
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Genetic factors play an important role in determining blood pressure values. Strong familial aggregation and estimated heritability values around 0.4-0.6 were reported in a white population. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genetic components and mode of inheritance of blood pressure in Taiwan. DESIGN: A cross-sectional family study based on an adult population undergoing a health examination. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1313 adults and their spouses or first-degree relatives, or both, underwent a health examination in a tertiary university hospital from August 1998 to September 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Genetic analyses, including comingling analysis, familial correlation and complex segregation analysis, were used to detect the genetic components and the mode of inheritance of blood pressures. RESULTS: In both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, the comingling analyses demonstrated that a more than one-component distribution provided the best fit for the data. The familial correlation coefficients showed significant parent-offspring and sibling correlation. Complex segregation analyses showed major gene effects in controlling systolic and diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant genetic components in blood pressure among Taiwanese. Further investigation of genomic loci for the control of blood pressure is indicated.
BACKGROUND: Genetic factors play an important role in determining blood pressure values. Strong familial aggregation and estimated heritability values around 0.4-0.6 were reported in a white population. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genetic components and mode of inheritance of blood pressure in Taiwan. DESIGN: A cross-sectional family study based on an adult population undergoing a health examination. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1313 adults and their spouses or first-degree relatives, or both, underwent a health examination in a tertiary university hospital from August 1998 to September 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Genetic analyses, including comingling analysis, familial correlation and complex segregation analysis, were used to detect the genetic components and the mode of inheritance of blood pressures. RESULTS: In both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, the comingling analyses demonstrated that a more than one-component distribution provided the best fit for the data. The familial correlation coefficients showed significant parent-offspring and sibling correlation. Complex segregation analyses showed major gene effects in controlling systolic and diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant genetic components in blood pressure among Taiwanese. Further investigation of genomic loci for the control of blood pressure is indicated.