Blood pressure in blacks: twin studies in Barbados

ABSTRACT

We have recently reported that there are significant genetic influences on the population variation in blood pressure in black twins in Los Angeles. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken to replicate these findings in a black twin population that lives in a different biosocial environment. We chose the Caribbean island nation of Barbados, where 96 percent of the population is black, the literacy rate is 99 percent, and the access to health care is guaranteed. The goals were 1) to test the feasibility of twin studies in blood pressure research in a developing country and 2) to estimate the relative contribution of genes and environment to blood pressure variability in blacks in the Caribbean. The names of 200 twin sets were obtained with the assistance of community resources including a twin club, by media advertisement, and by asking people at public blood pressure screenings if they knew any twins. By using these methods, we identified 200 sets of twins. Of these, 37.5 percent (75/200) met our criteria for study. Although 97 percent of the sets of twins (73/75) said they were willing to participate, only 69 percent (52/75) were able to be scheduled during the 1 week of the study when the full team of investigators was in Barbados. Of those scheduled, 83 percent (43/52) were examined. Examination included medical history, physical examination, recumbent blood pressure measurements by two observers, anthropometric measurements, 24-hour urine collections for sodium and potassium tests, and blood tests for zygosity. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) (AU)