Longitudinal variance components models for systolic blood pressure, fitted using Gibbs sampling
2003

Genetic Effects on Blood Pressure Over Time

Sample size: 4692 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Katrina J Scurrah, Martin D Tobin, Paul R Burton

Primary Institution: Institute of Genetics and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Leicester

Hypothesis

The study aims to assess genetic effects on baseline blood pressure and the rate of change of blood pressure with age.

Conclusion

The study found that genetic factors significantly influence both baseline systolic blood pressure and its increase with age.

Supporting Evidence

  • The mean rate of change of SBP with each year was 0.54, suggesting an increase of approximately 5 mm Hg every 10 years.
  • Genetic effects accounted for the most variation in SBP at the mean age.
  • Males tended to have slightly lower SBP than females.
  • The number of cigarettes smoked per day was associated with an increase in BP of approximately 1 mm Hg for every six cigarettes.

Takeaway

This study looked at how genes affect blood pressure over time, finding that they play a big role in how blood pressure changes as people age.

Methodology

Generalized linear mixed models were fitted using Gibbs sampling to analyze repeated measurements of systolic blood pressure.

Limitations

The study may have limitations related to the complexity of modeling and potential biases in the simulated data.

Participant Demographics

The analysis included 4692 individuals from 330 pedigrees.

Statistical Information

P-Value

< 0.00001

Statistical Significance

p<0.00001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2156-4-S25

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