Ethnic differences and heritability of blood pressure circadian rhythm in African and European American youth and young adults. Issue 1 (23rd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Yanyan; Su, Shaoyong; Brown, Michelle; Snieder, Harold; Harshfield, Gregory; Wang, Xiaoling
• Is Part Of: Journal of hypertension. Volume 40:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 163
• Page End: 170
• Publication Date: 2022-01-23
• Subjects: acrophase -- African Americans -- amplitude -- blood pressure -- circadian rhythm -- twin study; Hypertension -- Periodicals; Hypertension -- Periodicals; 616.132005
• DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000002988
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-5598

Abstract

Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract : Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether blood pressure (BP) circadian rhythm in African Americans differed from that in European Americans. We further examined the genetic and/or environmental sources of variances of the BP circadian rhythm parameters and the extent to which they depend on ethnicity or sex. Method: Quantification of BP circadian rhythm was obtained using Fourier transformation from the ambulatory BP monitoring data of 760 individuals (mean age, 17.2 ± 3.3; 322 twin pairs and 116 singletons; 351 African Americans). Results: BP circadian rhythm showed a clear difference by ethnic group with African Americans having a lower amplitude ( P = 1.5e–08), a lower percentage rhythm ( P = 2.8e–11), a higher MESOR ( P = 2.5e–05) and being more likely not to display circadian rhythm ( P = 0.002) or not in phase ( P = 0.003). Familial aggregation was identified for amplitude, percentage rhythm and acrophase with genetic factors and common environmental factors together accounting for 23 to 33% of the total variance of these BP circadian rhythm parameters. Unique environmental factors were the largest contributor explaining up to 67--77% of the total variance of these parameters. No sex or ethnicity difference in the variance components of BP circadian rhythm was observed. Conclusion: This study suggests that ethnic differences in BP circadian rhythm already exist in youth with African Americans having a dampened circadian rhythm and better BP circadian rhythm may be achieved by changes in environmental factors.