Immediate postnatal growth is associated with blood pressure in young adulthood: the Barry Caerphilly Growth Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Cardiovascular Health
• Growth and Development

Background:

• A consistent inverse relationship exists between birth weight and systolic blood pressure.
• Few studies have investigated the immediate postnatal period's impact on blood pressure.
• The fetal origins hypothesis suggests early life factors influence adult disease risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if accelerated postnatal growth predicts adult systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
• To examine the association between weight, length, and growth velocities with blood pressure in adulthood.
• To provide evidence for or against the growth acceleration hypothesis.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal follow-up of participants from the Barry Caerphilly Growth Study.
• Blood pressure measurements obtained around age 25 years in 679 subjects.
• Multivariable linear regression and spline models used to analyze growth and blood pressure data.

Main Results:

• Birth weight was inversely associated with systolic blood pressure.
• Immediate postnatal weight gain (0-5 months) independently predicted higher systolic blood pressure.
• Weight gain between 1 year 9 months and 5 years also predicted higher systolic blood pressure.
• Immediate weight gain was the sole predictor of higher diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusions:

• Immediate postnatal growth is a significant predictor of adult diastolic blood pressure in term births.
• Both birth weight and postnatal growth patterns are associated with adult systolic blood pressure.
• Findings support both the fetal origins and growth acceleration hypotheses regarding cardiovascular health.