Relationship between birth weight and awake blood pressure in children and adolescents in absence of intrauterine growth retardation

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the relationship between birth weight (BW) and ambulatory blood pressure in children and adolescents, born at term in absence of intrauterine growth retardation. Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed on 332 children (150 boys), aged from 6 to 16 years. Subjects were stratified by BW tertiles and age. ABPM was performed using SpaceLabs 90207 monitor during a regular school day. Blood pressure (BP) was measured every 20 min from 06:00 to 24:00, and thereafter every 30 min. Means of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) during 24 h, daytime (08:00 to 22:00), and nighttime (24:00 to 06:00) were calculated. Systolic and diastolic load was estimated as the percentage of measurements above the age- and sex-specific 95th percentile during the 24 h. BW was inversely related to daytime (SBP (P = .04) and SBP load (P = .04) when controlled for sex, current height, ponderal index (weight/height3), and age. The predictive values of daytime SBP throughout the pediatric age group in the two extreme tertiles of BW (lowest, 2.500 to 3.200 kg; and highest, 3.501 to 4.820 kg) were obtained from regression equations including SBP during activity period or SBP load and age. Children who had lower BW tended to have higher daytime SBP or SBP load at any age although this difference was not statistically significant. These differences became more evident as the subjects got older. BW is a determinant of daytime SBP even in the absence of intrauterine growth retardation. The influence of BW seems to increase with age.

The relationship between birth weight and pulse pressure in children: cross-sectional study

“…22 Although remaining controversial, a weight of evidence exists to suggest a negative association between birth weight and blood pressure in later life. [5][6][7] Similarly, evidence exists for such a relationship in children, [10][11][12] although a previous study of this cohort suggested that the relationship may vary with age and gender. 13 Much less is known regarding the possibility that pulse pressure may be in part determined by fetal growth.…”

“…[9][10][11] Less is known regarding the potential link between birth weight and pulse pressure, although a recent study reported a negative association. 13 What this study adds K We found a significant negative association between birth weight and pulse pressure, although this association was restricted to the girls in the study.…”

“…4 In particular, a number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated a negative correlation between birth weight and blood pressure in adulthood, [5][6][7] although the association remains controversial. 8,9 Evidence also exists for such a relationship in childhood, [10][11][12] although has been suggested to vary with age and gender. 13 Much less is known regarding the relationship between fetal growth and pulse pressure, particularly in childhood.…”

The relationship between gestational age, systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure in children

“…[3][4][5][6] It has been estimated that a 1 kg higher birth weight is typically associated with a 2-4 mm Hg lower systolic blood pressure. 7 Evidence also exists for such a relationship in childhood, [8][9][10][11] but it has been suggested to vary with age and gender. 12 Fewer studies have addressed the contribution of length of gestation at birth in determining risk of adverse health in later life.…”

Birth weight, hypertension and ‘white coat’ hypertension: size at birth in relation to office and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure

“…Results from recent studies of ambulatory BP in children include observations of an inverse association of birth weight with daytime SBP in children born from full-term pregnancies 16 and an inverse association of birth weight with mean 24-h SBP in a sample where no association of birth weight with office BP was found. 17,18 In our current study, we investigated the association of size at birth with hypertensive status defined by both office BP measured at a clinic and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring in 70-year-old men.…”