Influence of familial hypertension on blood pressure during adolescence

The relationships of familial hypertension and height, weight, and blood pressure (BP) were studied in two adolescent populations. Subjects having hypertensive first-degree relatives were matched to control subjects without such a family history. The group with familial hypertension demonstrated a slightly higher average BP but also had a greater mean body weight and ponderal index than the control group. After controlling for weight, male but not female subjects with a family history of hypertension had a greater prevalence of elevated BP and higher average pressures than controls. The factors of above-average weight and familial hypertension appear to interact so as to produce an excessive prevalence of elevated BP. These trends suggest that teenagers with hypertensive first-degree relatives constitute a special risk group that should be closely monitored.