Bivariate genetic modeling of cardiovascular stress reactivity: Does stress uncover genetic variance?

OBJECTIVE: To test the existence of gene-by-stress interaction by assessing cardiovascular stress reactivity in monozygotic and dizygotic twins. METHODS: We studied 160 adolescent (mean age 16.7 ± 2.0 years; range 13-22 years) and 212 middle-aged twin pairs (mean age 44.2 ± 6.7 years; range 34-63 years). Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, heart rate (HR), pre-ejection period (PEP), and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were measured at rest and during a choice reaction time and a mental arithmetic task. We used a bivariate analysis of the resting and mean stress levels to test... Mehr ...