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Cesarean Delivery, Overweight throughout Childhood, and Blood Pressure in Adolescence

Linda P M Pluymen1, Henriëtte A Smit1, Alet H Wijga2

  • 1Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|October 1, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children born via cesarean delivery face a 52% increased risk of being overweight throughout childhood. However, cesarean birth does not appear to elevate adolescent blood pressure compared to vaginal delivery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Cesarean delivery rates have increased globally.
  • Early life factors influence long-term health outcomes.
  • The association between delivery mode and childhood overweight requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if cesarean delivery increases the risk of childhood overweight.
  • To assess if cesarean delivery is associated with higher adolescent blood pressure.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from a Dutch birth cohort study (1996-1997).
  • Ascertained delivery mode via questionnaire; measured height, weight, and blood pressure at ages 4, 8, 12, and 16.
  • Employed mixed-model analysis on 2641 children with at least one examination.

Main Results:

  • Cesarean-born children (8.9%) had 1.52 times higher odds of being overweight throughout childhood (95% CI 1.18, 1.96).
  • No significant difference in systolic or diastolic blood pressure z-scores was observed in adolescence between cesarean and vaginally delivered children.

Conclusions:

  • Cesarean delivery is linked to a 52% increased risk of childhood overweight.
  • Cesarean delivery was not associated with elevated adolescent blood pressure compared to vaginal delivery.
Abstract

Keywords:
blood pressurecardiovascular riskcesareanchildmode of deliveryobesityoverweight

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