Age-specific differences in blood pressure among inbred and non-inbred north Indian children

Genetic and inbreeding influences on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastol ic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MBP) were examine d among 3015 children (1527 males and 1488 females) from the Aligarh distri ct, Uttar Pradesh in north India. The subjects included offspring of first cousins, first cousins once removed, second cousins and unrelated spouses f rom the same population. The measurements of the inbred children were compa red with those of their non-inbred relatives in at least 80% of the cases ( matched controls). Two unique findings emerge from this study. First a cons istent increase in mean values of SEP, DBP and MBP with increasing inbreedi ng coefficients have been observed among all age groups, including both the sexes. The results suggest that the hypothesis for a recessive gene of gen es could be held responsible for higher BP. Secondly, the effects of inbree ding on mean blood pressure among children and adults may not necessarily b e in the same direction. It can be said, therefore, that studies on inbreed ing effects using matched controls may provide more direct information rega rding the genetics of blood pressure, which has been considerably underesti mated in earlier studies.