Predictors of newborn systolic blood pressure

Tracking of blood pressure from childhood to adulthood is well known. It is therefore important to determine predictors of blood pressure as early as at birth.

To determine the association between maternal and neonatal factors on the blood pressure at birth of a group of Nigerian babies.

Consecutive full term neonates delivered in a tertiary centre in Nigeria were recruited for the study. Each newborn's systolic blood pressure (NSBP) was measured within the first four days of life. The mothers' weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status (SES) were determined while the babies' weight and crown-heel length were measured as well.

Four hundred and seventy-three mother/baby pairs were recruited for the study. The mean NSBP was 69.2 +/- 8.3 mmHG. The birth weight significantly correlated with NSBP,(r = 0.235, p = 0.0001). The NSBP rose an average of 3.61 mmHg per 0.5 kg increase in birth weight. The mean NSBP of babies of mothers with BMI <30 was significantly lower than in babies whose mothers had BMI>30, p=0.031. The mean NSBP of babies from low SES was significantly higher than middle or high SES groups p=0.022.

The study shows that child birth weight is the most significant predictor of newborn systolic blood pressure.