P-56: Family history of hypertension is not a risk factor for progression of hypertension

Positive family history of hypertension (FH+) is thought to be a risk factor for future development of hypertension (HT) in normotensive subjects. Little is known on whether FH+ is a risk factor for progression of HT in subjects with mildly elevated blood pressure (BP). Therefore, we studied the predictive value of FH+ for the development of established HT in a cohort of young borderline to mild hypertensives. The study was carried out in 787 subjects (560 males) who took part in the multicenter HARVEST study. Subjects 18 to 45 years old with stage 1 HT, who never took antihypertensive therapy, were enrolled. End point was defined as a BP requiring antihypertensive therapy according to BHS guidelines. In all subjects, ambulatory BP monitoring was performed at baseline and during follow-up. Data were adjusted for age, gender, BMI, lifestyle factors at baseline and changes in these variables over time. Mean follow-up duration was 70±2 months. At baseline, FH+ subjects (n=463), had slightly higher office BP (146.2±0.5/94.5±0.3 vs 144.9±0.6/93.7±0.4 mmHg, p=.09/.055, respectively) and ambulatory 24h BP (131.9±0.5/82.3±0.4 vs 129.8±0.6/81.4±0.5 mmHg, p=0.012/ns, respectively) in comparison with FH- subjects (n=324). The prevalence of white coat HT, defined as ambulatory daytime BP