Role of Heredity in the Problem of Hypertension in Industrial Workers

The exact role of heredity in hypertension has not been evaluated satisfactorily. Page¹has said: "Perhaps much of the diversity of opinion regarding the importance of heredity in hypertension is due to lack of care in defining what is meant by a 'positive family history.' " He believes that the family history is positive in most cases of essential hypertension and quotes a penetrating analysis of the problem by Platt: "Briefly stated, his data, which should be extended, is in accord with the view that essential hypertension is a dominant trait. A positive family history in a patient with hypertension suggests, with a 6:1 probability, that the process is essential. A negative family history indicates with only 3:1 probability that the hypertension is secondary, due most often to renal disease." It would appear, therefore, that when there is a positive family history it is more likely that a case of