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Birth weight, puberty, and systolic blood pressure in children and adolescents: a longitudinal analysis

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 20, pages 444–450 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

We examined the association between birth weight and systolic blood pressure (SBP) from pre-puberty to late puberty in a cohort of American children. Ninety-eight children aged 4–12 years at baseline were followed annually for 2–6 years with at least two Tanner stages. Annual measures included SBP, age, gender, race, birth weight, Tanner stage, and body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography. Birth weight was inversely correlated with SBP in pre-pubertal children (r=−0.23, P<0.05), especially in white children. SBP persisted at a higher level from pre-puberty through late puberty among children with low birth weight (<2500?g). However, SBP significantly increased from pre-puberty to early or late puberty among children with high birth weight (⩾4000?g). After adjusting for visceral fat, one unit change of birth weight category was associated with a 2.6?mm Hg reduction in SBP (P<0.05), but this association was attenuated as puberty progressed. The changes in SBP across puberty followed different trajectories in children with low vs high birth weight. Attenuation in the association between birth weight and SBP from pre-puberty to late puberty may be influenced by sexual maturation.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the US Department of Agriculture (MIG), the National Institute of Child Health and Development (MIG: R29 HD 32668 and R01 HD/HL 33064), and by a General Clinical Research Center grant M01-RR-00032. The manuscript preparation was supported in part by the American Heart Association (AHA 0460043Z) and the National Cancer Institute grant (R24 CA95835-01). We are grateful to Rey Figueroa for physician coverage, Barbara Gower for insulin and minimal model analysis, Tena Hilario who coordinated this project, the staff of the GCRC, and the children and their families who participated in this study.

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Author notes

  1. C Li

    Present address: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mail Stop K-66, Atlanta, GA, 30341

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

    C Li

  2. Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Growth Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    TT-K Huang

  3. College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA

    M L Cruz

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    M I Goran

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  1. C Li
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  2. TT-K Huang
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  3. M L Cruz
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  4. M I Goran
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M I Goran.

Additional information

This work was completed when Dr Li worked at the University of Kansas Medical Center as an assistant professor. Disclaimer: All authors have no potential conflict of interest, real or perceived.

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Li, C., Huang, TK., Cruz, M. et al. Birth weight, puberty, and systolic blood pressure in children and adolescents: a longitudinal analysis. J Hum Hypertens 20, 444–450 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002021

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002021

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