Early life predictors of development of blood pressure from childhood to adulthood: Evidence from a 30-year longitudinal birth cohort study. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Das, Sumon Kumar; McIntyre, Harold David; Al Mamun, Abdullah
• Is Part Of: Atherosclerosis. Volume 311(2020)
• Page Start: 91
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Birth cohort -- Blood pressure -- Early life -- Predictors; Arteriosclerosis -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.136
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2020.09.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9150

Abstract

Abstract: Background and aims: The early life predictors of changes in the blood pressures of offspring between childhood and young adulthood have not been well defined. Thus, this study aimed to determine the life course association of offspring's blood pressure with prenatal and early infancy lifestyle, and other factors taking advantage of a large community-based, longitudinal study of a birth cohort in Australia – the MUSP study. Methods: The systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) was measured for 3793, 3782, 2628 and 1780 offspring of the Australian longitudinal cohort study at 5, 14, 21 and 30 years of their age, respectively. Individual PP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was equated, and Generalized Estimating Equations with time (age) and predictor interaction modelling were performed. Results: Blood pressures of the offspring increased significantly between 5 and 30 years. Early life factors such as pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity, and hypertensive disorder in pregnancy were significantly positively associated, and duration of gestation and pre-pregnancy thinness of the mothers negatively associated with this life course increase in the offspring's blood pressure. Rapid increase in body weight from birth to 5 years had a strong association with increasing blood pressures components throughout their life course. Conclusions: Several maternal pre-pregnancy and pregnancy factors along with the early life growth characteristics of offspring are important predictors of increase in blood pressure of the offspring from their childhood to adulthood. Highlights: The study showed association between perinatal and early childhood factors and offspring blood pressure from 5 to 30 years. Pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity, and hypertensive disorder in pregnancy had significantly positive association. Duration of gestation and pre-pregnancy thinness were negatively associated with offspring blood pressure. Birth-to-5 year rapid body weight increase had strong positive association with the life-course increase of blood pressure. Thus, primary prevention of hypertension may need to start from early life as early as from pregnancy.