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The relationship between birth weight and blood pressure in childhood: a population-based study

Sandra D Steinthorsdottir1, Sigridur B Eliasdottir, Olafur S Indridason

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.

American Journal of Hypertension
|February 6, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight did not correlate with absolute blood pressure (BP) in children. However, a significant negative correlation was found between birth weight and BP percentiles, suggesting further research into this association.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Cardiovascular Epidemiology
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Low birth weight is a known risk factor for later-life hypertension.
  • Understanding early life factors influencing blood pressure is crucial for preventative health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between birth weight and blood pressure (BP) in healthy 9- to 10-year-old children.
  • To determine if birth weight is associated with absolute BP values or BP percentiles.

Main Methods:

  • Four seated BP measurements were taken for each child, with BP percentile calculated from the mean.
  • Birth weight data was obtained from the Icelandic Birth Registry.
  • Multivariable linear regression analyzed the association between birth measures and BP/BP percentiles.

Main Results:

  • No correlation was observed between birth weight and absolute BP values in the 857 children studied.
  • A statistically significant negative correlation was found between birth weight and both systolic and diastolic BP percentiles.
  • Gestational age did not show a correlation with BP.

Conclusions:

  • Contrary to some prior research, absolute BP in children was not associated with birth weight.
  • A significant negative correlation exists between birth weight and BP percentiles, highlighting the importance of percentile-based analysis.
  • Standardization of BP measurement methods may be key to resolving conflicting findings in pediatric studies.
Abstract

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