Background The aim of the present study was to investigate anthropometric indexes, blood pressure levels on conventional measurements (BP) and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), lipids and glucose levels in normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents.
Material and methods For the present study we recruited 115 subjects (50M/65F). Based on BP measured in their parents we classified them as offspring of normotensive parents (OFF/NORM, n = 34, mean age 26.5 ± 8.0 years) and offspring of hypertensive parents (OFF/HT, n = 81, mean age 29.1 ± 6.3). Conventional BP measurements were taken five times during two separate visits. ABPM was performed with recordings every 15 minutes in the daytime and every 30 minutes at nighttime (SpaceLab 90207). Anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests were performed. Differences between groups were compared with t-test for continuous variables and with c2 test for categorical variables, while adjusting for confounders.
Results The groups were comparable in terms of age, body mass index, lifestyle factors and level of total cholesterol. OFF/HT had higher waist-hip ratio (0.81 ± 0.07 v. 0.78 ± 0.08, p = 0.04) and level of triglicerydes (1.17 ± 0.96 mmol/l v. 0.89 ± 0.32 mmol/l, p = 0.021). There were no differences among the groups in systolic blood pressure on conventional measurements as well as on ABPM. OFF/HT had higher diastolic blood pressure on conventional measurements (74.65 ± 7.15 mm Hg v. 71.11 ± 7.37 mm Hg, p = 0.021) and on ABPM during 24 hours (70.25 ± 5.84 mm Hg v. 67.02 ± 5.97 mm Hg, p = 0.08), and separately during day (75.28 ± 6.62 mm Hg v. 71.98 ± 6.55 mm Hg, p = 0.017) and night (60.87 ± 7.43 mm Hg v. 57.43 ± 4.87 mm Hg, p = 0.005).
Conclusions Offspring of hypertensive parents have higher diastolic blood pressure independently of the method of measurement, higher waist–hip ratio and higher level of triglycerides. This observation suggests clustering of metabolic risk factors in offspring of hypertensive parents.
Arterial Hypertension 2010, vol. 14, no 3, pages 201-207