Family history of hypertension enhances age-dependent rise in blood pressure, a 15-year follow-up, the Tampere adult population cardiovascular risk study

A family history (FH) of hypertension is known to predispose to high blood pressure. We wanted to study whether it associates with blood pressure and hypertension in the Tampere adult population cardiovascular risk 15-year longitudinal study. A 50-year-old Finnish cohort having hypertension and their controls was examined retrospectively. The groups were combined and stratified to 396 subjects with a positive FH of hypertension and 384 with a negative FH. A 15-year follow-up was done from their periodic health examinations at the ages of 35-, 40-, 45-, and 50 years. In follow-up from the age of 35 years, systolic blood pressure (P < .001), diastolic blood pressure (P < .001), and the annual increase of systolic blood pressure (P < .010) were higher in the group with positive FH, compared to the negative FH group. Positive FH associated with diagnosed hypertension by the age of 50 years (OR 3.52, P < .001). The FH groups were not associated with body mass index. Our findings show that the prevalence of hypertension at the age of 50 years was significantly higher in those with a positive FH of hypertension. Asking about FH can provide the clinician with a simple instrument for recognition of subjects at risk of hypertension for closer monitoring at a younger age.