Hypertension precursors in inner city minority females

Screening for precursors and objective evidence for hypertension was done in an inner city family planning clinic. Prior history of high blood pressure occurred in 4 of 41 young black females (10%) and pressures greater than 124/80 mmHg occurred in 2 of 41 (5%). A family history of heart disease occurred in 7 of 41 (17%), of high blood pressure in first degree relatives in 17 of 29 (60%), of death due to high blood pressure in 12 of 41 (29%). Family history may be more predictive of future events than objective data in this age/sex cohort.