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BACKGROUND Hypertension is one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide and the problem is growing. It is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and the single most important risk factor for stroke. Inheritance of hypertension, the genetic contribution is reported to range from 30-50%. 1 Screening, detection and early treatment of hypertension can significantly reduce the complications and health care cost. Cold pressor test is a provocative test considered to be a potentially useful indicator of future hypertension. The aim of the study is to compare the blood pressure response to cold pressor test between children of hypertensive and normotensive parents. MATERIALS AND METHODS Present study is a non-experimental descriptive study conducted among 65 children of hypertensive and normotensive parents each (total 130 subjects) in the age group 18-30 years residing at Mavoor Panchayath, Kozhikode, Kerala from 20-02-2015 to 03-05-2015. Socio demographic data, health related habits, BMI and blood pressure response to the cold pressor test of the subjects were assessed. The data was analysed using SPSS software 18 th version. RESULTS Among the 65 children of hypertensive and normotensive parents each, more than half (56.9% and 55.4% respectively) were not following any regular exercise pattern. 9.2% of children of hypertensive parents & 6.2% of children of normotensive parents were smokers. 31% of children of hypertensive parents & 4.6% of normotensive parents were obese (BMI >30). Among the children of hypertensive parents, in 17% both the parents were hypertensive. The mean change in the Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) to cold Pressor test among children of hypertensive parents was higher (9.5 with SD 12.3) than the mean change among children of normotensive parents (6.7 with SD 9.6) The mean change in Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) to cold pressor test among children of hypertensive parents was higher (10.4 with SD 9.3) than that of children of normotensive parents (8.7 with SD 7.4). But the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The present study suggests that the blood pressure response to cold pressor test among children of hypertensive parents is numerically higher than the same among normotensive parents. But the difference is not statistically significant.

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