FAMILIAL AGGREGATION OF BLOOD PRESSURE

In an epidemiologic investigation of blood pressure in Alameda County, California, an attempt was made to determine the presence of spouse aggregation in blood pressure distribution. A probability sample of 1,811 households yielded a total of 504 white spouse pairs who had been married only once and who were living together at the time of the survey. Analysis of the data included two separate procedures: 1) classification of blood pressure, and 2) determination of spouse aggregation. Results indicated no discernible aggregation of blood pressure among spouse pairs, by duration of marriage or by other characteristics (i.e., level of blood pressure and number of children). © 1969 by The Johns Hopkins University.