Familial aggregation of hypertension treatment and control in the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study

Abstract

Purpose: To assess if the treatment and control of hypertension aggregates in families.

Methods: The Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study enrolled sibships between 1997 and 1999, including 1329 hypertensive non-Hispanic blacks (1057 sibling pairs) from Jackson, Mississippi, 1133 hypertensive non-Hispanic whites (859 sibling pairs) from Rochester, Minnesota, and 752 hypertensive Hispanic whites (627 sibling pairs) from Starr County, Texas. Hypertension awareness and drug treatment were ascertained at examination; control was defined by blood pressure levels <140/90 mm Hg. As a measure of familial aggregation, odds ratios were calculated to assess concordance between sibling pairs in the treatment and control of hypertension.

Results: Overall, 90.5% of subjects were aware of their hypertension; 90.6% of those who were aware were treated with antihypertensive drugs and 56.0% of those treated had their hypertension controlled. There was statistically significant sib-sib concordance in the treatment of hypertension (odds ratio [OR] = 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25 to 2.47; P = 0.003) and in the control of drug-treated hypertension (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.25 to 1.81; P <0.0001).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the treatment and control of hypertension aggregates in families.