GENETIC RISK FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Background. Hypertension, a multifaceted disorder influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, poses a significant risk of cardiovascular disease. Genetic components, namely, numerous genes, influence the phenotype of blood pressure through the allelic effects of individual genes and interactions between genes. The aim of the study was to identify the main genetic risk factors for the development of hypertension. Results. Despite the availability of a large number of medications, achieving effective blood pressure control remains a challenge in modern medicine. This is what motivates scientists to conduct research to determine the genetic components of the disease pathogenesis and the target of drug action. It has been proven that both genetic and environmental factors are involved in blood pressure homeostasis and the development of hypertension. Risk factors have been identified, namely obesity, unbalanced diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, excessive sodium and potassium intake. Modern genetic approaches help to understand the basic biology and identify the main links in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Scientists have found that genetic factors such as heredity, genetic mutations, factors affecting the phenotype, and epigenetic factors regulate blood pressure. Among the most important are genes related to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (angiotensin II, renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme, aldosterone, etc.), genes responsible for water-salt balance and those that control vascular tone (epoxyecosatrienoic acid and 20-hydroxyecosatetraenoic acid, etc.), genes that regulate obesity (renin, aldosterone, glucocorticoid receptor, aldosterone synthase, kinase 1, and glucocorticoids). It has been determined that the study of hypertension and blood pressure using genetic methods improves the interpretation and identification of genetic risk factors, which increases clinical utility. Conclusions. It has been shown that the identification of genetic factors improves the prediction of the risk of hypertension, timely identification of groups of patients with factors and prevention and effective treatment.