April 11, 2013Psychosomatic Medicine
Genetic Influence on Blood Pressure and Underlying Hemodynamics Measured at Rest and During Stress
Key result
Genetic factors accounted for 31% to 73% of the variance in blood pressure and hemodynamic levels at rest and during stress, with comparable heritability between African and European American youth.
Why the study?
Do genetic factors influence blood pressure and hemodynamic characteristics at rest and during mental stress in youth?
Population
531 twin pairs of youth, including monozygotic and dizygotic pairs, mean age 14.7 years.
Comparison
Mental challenge tasks vs Resting state
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Substantial heritability of BP and hemodynamic stress responses in youth is hypothesis-generating; leaves open ancestry-informed genetic studies before any clinical application.
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=1,062)
Structured PICO
Do genetic factors influence blood pressure and hemodynamic characteristics at rest and during mental stress in youth?
P
Population
1,062 youth (531 twin pairs) of European American and African American descent, mean age 14.7 years, assessed for genetic and environmental contributions to cardiovascular reactivity.
E
Exposure
Mental challenge tasks (car-driving simulation and a social stressor interview)
C
Comparator
Resting state
O
Outcome
Heritability indices for blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and underlying hemodynamics (heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance) at rest and during stresssurrogate
Main Result
Effect estimate: Heritability 31%-73%
Cardiovascular measures at rest and during mental stress show substantial heritability that is comparable between youth of African and European descent.
Cite This Study
Wu et al. (2013) conducted an observational in Blood pressure and hemodynamics (n=1,062). Genetic and environmental factors was evaluated on Heritability indices for blood pressure and hemodynamic characteristics at rest and during stress (Heritability 31%-73%). Genetic factors accounted for 31% to 73% of the variance in blood pressure and hemodynamic levels at rest and during stress, with comparable heritability between African and European American youth.