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Effects of current size, postnatal growth, and birth size on blood pressure in early childhood

Peter C Hindmarsh1, Sinead Bryan, Michael P P Geary

  • 1UCL Institute of Child Health, Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, Clinical and Molecular Genetics Unit, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom. p.hindmarsh@ucl.ac.uk

Pediatrics
|November 17, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Early childhood weight impacts blood pressure. Postnatal growth to six months is more predictive than birth weight for systolic blood pressure (SBP) in 3-year-olds.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Early life factors significantly influence long-term health outcomes.
  • Childhood blood pressure tracks into adulthood and is a predictor of cardiovascular disease.
  • Understanding early growth influences on blood pressure is crucial for preventative strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between early childhood growth patterns and blood pressure at three years of age.
  • To determine if birth weight or postnatal growth is a stronger predictor of blood pressure.
  • To explore the influence of family history of hypertension on maternal and child blood pressure.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 590 children.
  • Measured systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at 3 years of age.
  • Correlated blood pressure with current size and size at birth, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years.

Main Results:

  • Childhood weight at 3 and 2 years positively correlated with SBP.
  • After adjusting for current size, birth weight and 6-month weight negatively correlated with SBP.
  • Family history of hypertension and maternal history of gestational hypertension were associated with higher blood pressure.
  • No significant associations were found for DBP.

Conclusions:

  • Current weight is a key determinant of SBP in 3-year-olds.
  • Postnatal growth up to 6 months is a more significant predictor of SBP than birth weight.
  • Family history of hypertension plays a role in maternal blood pressure, suggesting potential early intervention windows.
Abstract

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