Major gene effects in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in families receiving a health-examination in Taiwan

Background Genetic factors play an important role in determining blood pressure values. Strong familial aggregation and estimated heritability values around 0.4-0.6 were reported in a white population. Objectives To investigate the genetic components and mode of inheritance of blood pressure in Taiwan. Design A cross-sectional family study based on an adult population undergoing a health examination. Setting and participants A total of 1313 adults and their spouses or first-degree relatives, or both, underwent a health examination in a tertiary university hospital from August 1998 to September 1999. Main outcome measures Genetic analyses, including comingling analysis, familial correlation and complex segregation analysis, were used to detect the genetic components and the mode of inheritance of blood pressures. Results In both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, the comingling analyses demonstrated that a more than one-component distribution provided the best fit for the data. The familial correlation coefficients showed significant parent-offspring and sibling correlation. Complex segregation analyses showed major gene effects in controlling systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusions There were significant genetic components in blood pressure among Taiwanese. Further investigation of genomic loci for the control of blood pressure is indicated. (C) 2003 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.