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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 163-170 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of hypertension |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2022 |
Keywords
- Acrophase
- African Americans
- Amplitude
- Blood pressure
- Circadian rhythm
- Twin study
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine
- Physiology
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine