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Familial resemblance of blood pressure and body weight
Insights
Blood pressure (BP) shows familial resemblance in natural children, suggesting genetic influence. Adopted children
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Genetics and Heritability
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Familial resemblance of blood pressure (BP) is a known phenomenon.
- Understanding the interplay of genetic and environmental factors in BP is crucial for public health.
- Previous studies have indicated a hereditary component to blood pressure regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the familial resemblance of blood pressure (BP) in families with natural and adopted children.
- To compare BP correlations between parents and natural children versus parents and adopted children.
- To identify potential factors influencing BP resemblance within families.
Main Methods:
- Studied 545 families, including those with natural, adopted, and both types of children.
- Utilized mean values from four automatic BP measurements (Dinamap 845).
- Adjusted BP measurements for age (adults) or height (children) and sex.
Main Results:
- Significant BP resemblance observed between natural children and their parents (systolic BP r=0.24, diastolic BP r=0.29).
- Adopted children's BP showed no resemblance to foster parents, except for a correlation with adopting mothers.
- Factors like weight, heart rate, age, and duration of shared life did not influence results.
Conclusions:
- Natural children exhibit familial resemblance in blood pressure, indicating a potential genetic contribution.
- Environmental factors shared by adopted children and foster parents do not strongly correlate with BP resemblance.
- Regular monitoring of children with hypertensive parents is recommended for early detection and management.
Abstract:
Familial resemblance of blood pressure (BP) was studied in 545 families of which 370 included natural children, 24 adopted children and 151 both natural and adopted children. Mean values of four automatic BP measurements (Dinamap 845) were converted into age (adult) or height (children) and sex adjusted scores. BP was compared between parents and randomly chosen index children. A significant resemblance of BP was observed between natural children and their parents: r = 0.24 for systolic BP, r = 0.29 for diastolic BP, (n = 272 p greater than 0.05). BP of adopted children did not resemble that of their foster parents except for a significant correlation to BP of the adopting mothers (n = 46). Weight, heart rate, age and time of common life shared did not influence the results. The relative contribution of genetic and common environmental factors to BP correlation between family members could not be evaluated in this study. BP of children whose parents have high BP should be monitored regularly.