Researchers who analysed the genetic data of 222 people in Chattogram have identified variants in three genes associated with high blood pressure. One variant was found more often in women, particularly urban women and people who are overweight.
The study, on gene polymorphisms and hypertension in the population of southern Bangladesh, was published on Wednesday in Gene Reports, a journal of the Netherlands-based publisher Elsevier. It was led by Professors S M Rafiqul Islam and Adnan Mannan of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Chittagong.
The team compared 106 people with hypertension and 116 with normal blood pressure, recruited at six health facilities including Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chattogram General Hospital and the Fatikchhari upazila health complex. They examined the endothelin-1, endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE1) and angiotensinogen genes using whole exome sequencing, which reads the protein-coding part of the genome.
Of those carrying the C-338A variant of ECE1, 60 percent were women and 40 percent men, and 58 percent of the women lived in cities. Most carriers were overweight and had higher cholesterol. Professor Mannan explained that ECE1 helps produce endothelin-1, which narrows blood vessels and can raise blood pressure.
Lifestyle figures also emerged. Patients averaged 52 years of age against 44 for the comparison group; 58 percent had only primary schooling and 58 percent lived on a household income under 20,000 taka a month. Forty percent currently use tobacco, smoked or as zarda, and 40 percent eat processed food more than three times a week.
The researchers conclude that age, weight, diet and lifestyle shape hypertension risk alongside genes. The team included Professor Farhana Akter, head of endocrinology and diabetes at Chittagong Medical College, who described hypertension as one of Bangladesh's most serious public health problems.
This report is based on a story from Samakal's Chattogram bureau.
Photo: a blood pressure check (illustrative), Jesse K. Alwin, U.S. Marine Corps / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Source: samakal
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