The fetal origins of adult hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the fetal origins of hypertension.


METHODS
A systematic search was made for records of early growth, comprising measurements taken either at birth and/or during infancy, for groups of men and women now in middle-late life. Over 25,000 men and women born before 1931 were successfully traced.


RESULTS
Retarded growth in fetal life was strongly related to high blood pressure in adult life.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension is programmed by an adverse environment in utero. It is linked to impaired development in both early and late gestation.
Barker
D J
DJ
MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Southampton General Hospital, UK.
D000368:Aged; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000196:embryology* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000196:embryology* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000150:complications*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000196:embryology* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors