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Early Infant Growth Velocity Patterns and Cardiovascular and Metabolic Outcomes in Childhood
Tamara Marinkovic1, Liza Toemen1, Claudia J Kruithof2
1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Infant weight velocity patterns impact childhood cardiovascular health. Faster infant growth (peak weight velocity) is linked to higher blood pressure and increased cardiovascular risk factors in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Infant growth patterns are critical for long-term health.
- Understanding early life growth trajectories can predict later health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of infant weight velocity patterns on childhood cardiovascular and metabolic health.
- To examine associations between infant growth metrics and risk factors at age 6.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 4649 children with longitudinal growth measurements (0-3 years).
- Derived peak weight velocity (PWV), age at adiposity peak (AGEAP), and BMI at adiposity peak (BMIAP).
- Assessed childhood blood pressure, left ventricular mass, and metabolic markers at age 6 using multivariable regression.
Main Results:
- Higher infant PWV correlated with increased diastolic blood pressure and decreased left ventricular mass.
- Higher BMIAP was associated with elevated blood pressure, mediated by childhood BMI.
- Elevated PWV and AGEAP were linked to a higher risk of clustered cardiovascular risk factors in childhood.
Conclusions:
- Infant weight velocity patterns significantly influence childhood cardiovascular outcomes.
- Further research is required to elucidate associations with metabolic outcomes and long-term health consequences.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of infant growth on childhood health by examining the associations of detailed longitudinal infant weight velocity patterns with childhood cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes.
Study Design:
In a population-based prospective cohort study of 4649 children, we used repeated growth measurements at age 0-3 years to derive peak weight velocity (PWV), age at adiposity peak (AGEAP), and body mass index at adiposity peak (BMIAP). At age 6 years, we measured blood pressure, left ventricular mass, and cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin concentrations and defined children with clusters of risk factors. We assessed associations using 2 multivariable linear regression models.
Results:
A 1-SDS-higher infant PWV was associated with higher diastolic blood pressure (0.05 SDS; 95% CI, 0.02-0.09) and lower left ventricular mass (-0.05 SDS; 95% CI, -0.09 to -0.01), independent of body size. A 1-SDS-higher BMIAP was associated with higher systolic (0.12; 95% CI, 0.09-0.16) and diastolic (0.05; 95% CI, 0.01-0.08) blood pressure, but these associations were explained by childhood BMI. We did not observe any associations of PWV, BMIAP, and AGEAP with cholesterol and insulin concentrations. Higher PWV and AGEAP were associated with elevated risk of clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in childhood (P < .05).
Conclusion:
Infant weight velocity patterns are associated with cardiovascular outcomes. Further studies are needed to explore the associations with metabolic outcomes and long-term consequences.
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