Metabolic characteristics of hypertension: Importance of positive family history

Abstract

This study was performed to compare metabolic and endocrine characteristics of untreated hypertensive patients and normal controls. Measurements were made in age-matched, body mass index (BMI) matched, normotensive patients with ( n = 40; age = 53; BMI = 28) and without ( n = 39; age = 54; BMI = 27) a family history of hypertension and hypertensive patients with ( n = 38; age = 53; BMI = 28) and without ( n = 25; age = 54; BMI = 29) a family history of hypertension. Norepinephrine, renin activity, and total cholesterol blood concentrations were similar in normotensive patients with a positive family history of hypertension and in hypertensive patients with or without a family history. Similarly, there were no differences in plasma insulin concentrations or insulin/glucose ratios between the normotensive patients with a family history of hypertension and hypertensive patients with or without a family history. But in all three groups the values were significantly greater (at least p < 0.05 for each) than in the normotensive patients without a family history. Increases in systolic blood pressure during treadmill testing were 51 ± 4 mm Hg in the normotensive patients with a family history, 50 ± 3 mm Hg in hypertensives with a family history, and 45 ± 5 mm Hg in hypertensives without a family history; these changes were all less ( p < 0.05 for each) than in normotensives without a family history (65 ± 3 mm Hg). Together, these findings indicate that patients with a family history of hypertension, regardless of whether their own blood pressures are normal or high, exhibit clinical characteristics that may be predictive of an increased risk of cardiovascular events.