Arterial hypertension in twins. Colón. Matanzas. 2007

Abstract

Medical genetics in Cuba evolved with studies of national character and with the formation of masters in Genetic Counseling, promoting a change in adults’ health. Arterial hypertension is a clinical sign, a disease and a risk fact. It is among the non-transmissible diseases affecting adult population of the world, of Cuba, of the province of Matanzas and of the municipality of Colón, with increases in morbidity and mortality. That is why we carried out a transversal analytical study on arterial hypertension in twins, in Colon, from February 3rd to May 10th 2007. The results were: predominance of dizygotic twins; a bigger concordance as for the pair as for the case of the index in monozygotic twins; 44 years as average age of disease beginning; in the case of the second twin the disease began two years later. Among monozygotic twins, there was prevalence of the female sex, and among the dizygotic ones, there were not differences. There were a larger proportion of white persons. The antecedent of arterial hypertension in first and second grade relatives showed the greatest values. The most significant modifiable risk fact was lack of exercises for concordants; smoking and the inadequate consume of fruits and vegetables was the most significant for discordants. It was evident the genetic component of the arterial hypertension.