Sp. Walker et al., The effects of birth weight and postnatal linear growth retardation on blood pressure at age 11-12 years, J EPIDEM C, 55(6), 2001, pp. 394-398
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health","Medical Research General Topics
Study objective-To determine the effects of birth weight and linear growth
retardation (stunting) in early childhood on blood pressure at age 11-12 ye
ars.
Design-Prospective cohort study.
Setting-Kingston, Jamaica.
Participants-112 stunted children (height for age < -2 SD of the NCHS refer
ences) and 189 non-stunted children (height for age > -1 SD), identified at
age 9-24 months by a survey of poor neighbourhoods in Kingston.
Main results-Current weight was the strongest predictor of systolic blood p
ressure (beta= 4.90 mm Hg/SD weight 95%CI 3.97, 5.83). Birth weight predict
ed systolic blood pressure (beta = -1.28 nun Hg/SD change in birth weight,
95% CI -2.17, -0.38) after adjustment for current weight. There was a signi
ficant negative interaction between stunting in early childhood and current
weight indicating a larger effect of increased current weight in children
who experienced linear growth retardation in early childhood. There was no
interaction between birth weight and current weight. The increase in blood
pressure from age 7 to age 11-12 was greater in children with higher weight
at age 11-12 and less in children with higher birth weight and weight at a
ge 7.
Conclusions-Birth weight predicted systolic blood pressure in Jamaican chil
dren aged 11-12. Postnatal growth retardation may potentiate the relation b
etween current weight and blood pressure. Greater weight gain between ages
7 and 11 was associated with a greater increase in systolic blood pressure.
The relation between growth and later blood pressure is complex and has pr
enatal and postnatal components.