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Rapid infant weight gain and prenatal maternal depression are associated with prehypertension/hypertension before age

Thora Wesenberg Kjaer1,2, Rosalinda Medrano1, Janet M Wojcicki3

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Journal of Human Hypertension
|February 6, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Rapid infant weight gain and prenatal maternal depression predict high blood pressure in Latino children before age 9. Early intervention during pregnancy and infancy is key for preventing childhood hypertension.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Latino children face higher risks for obesity and hypertension compared to Caucasian children.
  • Addressing the childhood obesity epidemic requires early life prevention strategies.
  • Hypertension in childhood can lead to long-term metabolic complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify perinatal and maternal risk factors for prehypertension and hypertension in urban Latino children before age 9.
  • To investigate the association between rapid infant weight gain, maternal depression, and childhood hypertension.
  • To explore the role of early life obesity and leukocyte telomere length in childhood hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal cohort study of 131 low-income, US-born Latino children in San Francisco, followed from birth.
  • Annual assessments included child dietary intake, anthropometrics, and blood pressure measurements.
  • Maternal factors (BMI, depressive symptoms) and child leukocyte telomere length were also assessed.

Main Results:

  • Rapid infant weight gain (OR 7.25) and prenatal maternal depression (OR 6.70) were significantly associated with prehypertension/hypertension before age 9.
  • Early life obesity and leukocyte telomere length were not found to be associated with childhood hypertension.
  • The identified risk factors highlight the perinatal period as critical for hypertension development.

Conclusions:

  • Rapid infant weight gain and prenatal maternal depression are significant predictors of childhood hypertension in this cohort.
  • Targeting the perinatal period offers a crucial window for interventions to prevent childhood hypertension.
  • These findings emphasize the need for early screening and support for at-risk Latino children and their mothers.

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