The effect of family history of hypertension and polymorphism of the ACE gene (rs1799752) on cardiac autonomic modulation in adolescents

This study aims to analyze the behaviour of cardiac autonomic modulation in adolescents with a family history of hypertension along with polymorphism of the ACE gene (rs1799752). The study involved 141 adolescents, with a mean age of 14.89, divided into the following six groups: offspring of normotensive parents (ONP): DD, DI and II; and offspring of hypertensive parents (OHP): DD, DI and II. Blood pressure, body composition, family history of hypertension, sleep disorder, and sexual maturation were assessed for the groups' characterization. Afterwards, an electrocardiogram was performed, and oral mucosal cells were collected to analyze heart rate variability and genotypic research of angiotensin-converting enzyme. The main finding of this study was the decrease of vagal action in group OHP (genotype DD) relative to group ONP (genotype II): LF (%), 54.25 ± 3.14 vs 39.33 ± 3.80; HF (%), 45.74 ± 3.14 vs 60.66 ± 3.80; LF/HF, 1.48 ± 0.23 vs 0.68 ± 0.19. The results also showed changes in the variable diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in OHP (genotype DI) to ONP (genotype II) groups: 72.99 ± 2.33 vs 63.27 ± 1.72; and OHP (genotype DI) to ONP (genotype DD) groups. Adolescents with genotype DD and a family history of arterial hypertension present chances in cardiac autonomic modulation, the cardiac parasympathetic modulation is lower in these adolescents in comparison to participants of ONP + II group.