Genetic and environmental contributions to blood pressure and kidney function
Genetic and environmental contributions to blood pressure and kidney function
High blood pressure affects more than one in three people worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity, and mortality. Both our genes and our lifestyle influence blood pressure, but it is still not fully understood to what extent modifiable lifestyle factors can offset or exacerbate genetic risk. The kidneys are especially important in controlling blood pressure, and when they do not work properly, they can both cause and be affected by high blood pressure.
This thesis of Anna Argoty Pantoja explores how genes and lifestyle factors, separately and together, affect blood pressure, hypertension, and kidney function. The research uses data from two large studies: one in Mexico (the Health Workers Cohort Study) and one in the Netherlands (the Lifelines Cohort Study).
The findings offer new insights into how genes and lifestyle contribute to blood pressure and kidney function. The study shows that analysing biological pathways and networks of interacting genes helps identify genetic markers linked to complex traits. It also suggests that certain metabolic markers—like the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index—may help detect early risk of hypertension. Additionally, combining many genetic variants into genetic risk scores helps predict how lifestyle factors influence genetic susceptibility. Finally, a genome-wide analysis of kidney function identified new genetic variants, including some specific to women, suggesting that creatinine clearance is a useful measure for studying kidney function.