Hypertension subtypes and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in Indian population.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the association of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism with hypertension subtypes in a population from India. METHODS: Consecutive subjects of either sex, aged > or =18 years attending in temporary field clinics arranged in various localities of Assam and Mizoram were interviewed to record information about socio-demographic characteristics, alcohol consumption and smoking. Three readings of blood pressure, height and weight of all subjects were measured. Hypertension and its subtypes were defined as per JNC-VI criteria. Fasting venous blood samples were collected to estimate blood glucose level and to extract genomic DNA followed by PCR analysis for ACE gene polymorphism. RESULTS: A total of 916 (male=465, female=451) consecutive subjects comprising of 407 (44.4%) hypertensive subjects and 509 (55.6%) normotensive controls were included in the study. Of the hypertensive subjects, majority (69.0%) had systolic diastolic hypertension with male predominance (70.3% vs. 67.6%) which was followed by isolated diastolic hypertension (16.7%) and isolated systolic hypertension (14.3%). The predominant ACE genotype was Ins/Ins (50.0%) and Del/Del genotype showed lowest prevalence (11.4%). After adjusting confounding variables, the Del/Del genotype revealed significant association with isolated systolic hypertension. CONCLUSION: Del/Del polymorphism of ACE gene showed significant association with ISH in our study population.