GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BLOOD-PRESSURE IN 2 INDIAN POPULATIONS - SOMELESSONS

A generic epidemiological study of blood pressure was conducted in two contrasting populations: the Marwaris of Calcutta and the Hindu middl e-caste agriculturists of Digha. The Marwaris are heavier and signific antly more obese than the agriculturists. The prevalence of hypertensi on among the Marwaris (17%) is more than tenfold higher than that amon g the agriculturists (1.4%). Genetic analysis of blood pressure data u sing a path model indicates that blood pressure levels (adjusted and s tandardized for age, gender, education level, and disease status) are primarily determined by environmental factors, as measured by their ef fects on anthropometric characters. The observed familial resemblance of blood pressure levels in the two populations is primarily due to cu ltural rather than genetic inheritance. Genetic and familial effects o n covariation between anthropometric measures of obesity and blood pre ssure levels are perhaps so strong that there is no residual genetic h eritability of adjusted blood pressure levels.