title: Differences in association between birth parameters and blood pressure in children from preschool to high school.
abstract: We aimed to investigate the association between birth parameters with blood pressure (BP) among preschool- and school-aged children. Two separate childhood datasets were used: (1) 1295 children aged 3-6 years were examined during 2007-2009; and (2) 1741 and 2353 children aged 6 and 12 years, respectively, were examined during 2004-2006. Birth parameter data were obtained from parental records. BP was measured using standard protocols. Among 6-year-old children, each 1 kg decrease in birth weight was associated with a 1.33- and 1.20-mm Hg higher systolic and diastolic BP, respectively, after multivariable adjustment. In 6-year-old children, a decrease of 1 week in gestational age was independently associated with a 0.33- and 0.37-mm Hg higher systolic and diastolic BP, respectively. Six-year-old children in the low birth weight category (≤ 2499 g) versus those in the normal/high birth weight category (≥ 2500 g) had significantly higher systolic BP (P<0.0001). Girls in the low birth weight category versus those in the normal/high weight category had higher systolic BP (P=0.02). Significant associations were not observed among preschool-aged children and preadolescents. Birth weight and gestational age were strongly associated with BP among 6-year-old children, particularly girls, but not among preschoolers or preadolescents.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gopinath
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Baur
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pfund
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burlutsky
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male