Association of Maternal Prepregnancy BMI With Offspring Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Childhood

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Maternal Health
• Cardiometabolic Health

Background:

• Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is a critical factor influencing offspring health.
• The impact of maternal BMI on offspring cardiometabolic outcomes, particularly in preterm infants, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and offspring BMI in childhood.
• To examine the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and offspring blood pressure in children born preterm.

Main Methods:

• Observational cohort study utilizing data from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort.
• Categorization of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and offspring BMI into four levels.
• Classification of children based on gestational age at birth: extremely preterm, very/moderately preterm, late preterm, and term.

Main Results:

• A dose-response relationship was observed between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and offspring BMI z-scores, after adjusting for covariates.
• Children born extremely preterm to mothers with healthy weight or obesity, and very/moderately preterm to mothers with healthy weight, showed increased odds of elevated blood pressure compared to term infants.
• High maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with a stepwise increase in offspring BMI.

Conclusions:

• Elevated maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is a significant risk factor for increased offspring BMI in childhood.
• Preterm birth is independently associated with a higher likelihood of elevated blood pressure in offspring.
• Interventions targeting lifestyle modifications in at-risk children before adolescence may improve long-term cardiometabolic health.