FAMILIAL AGGREGATION OF BLOOD PRESSURE AND WEIGHT IN ADOPTIVE FAMILIES

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Abstract
Tests of homogeneity of means, variances and correlations for systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP and weight among subdivisions of a sample of adoptive families are presented. The means and variances of either type of BP, but not weight, were not significantly heterogeneous among families grouped according to the number of parents and children, natural and/or adopted, in the family unit. Estimates of correlation between family members were not heterogeneous among subdivisions for each of the three variables. Our results indicate that these data are suitable for a genetic analysis of familial aggregation. Pooled correlations suggest that the degree of resemblance of BP and of weight between family members varies within and across generations. Correlations involving the adoptees were significantly different from zero only for diastolic BP.