Birth measurements, family history, and environmental factors associated with later-life hypertensive status

Abstract

BackgroundThis birth cohort study was conducted to investigate the contribution of prenatal and antenatal environmental exposures to later-life hypertensive status.MethodsTwo thousand five hundred and three individuals born in 1921–1954 at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) were targeted; 2,081 (83.1%) participated. Clinical examinations included an interview, blood pressure (BP) measurements, and laboratory assays. Statistical analyses were performed using ordinal regression models with later-life hypertensive status as the dependent variable. Similar analyses were for subpopulations divided by family history of hypertension.ResultsIn the 2,081 subjects, 449 were normotensive, 531 were prehypertensive, and 1,101 had hypertension. Three hundred and forty two hypertensive patients were classified as high-risk (BP ≥180/110 mm Hg, or accompanied with diabetes or three well-established cardiovascular risk factors); the other 759 patients were at mid-to-low risks. Lower birth weight (<2,500 g: odds ratio (OR) = 1.67, P = 0.02; 2,500– <3,000 g: OR = 1.64, P < 0.01; 3,000– <3,500 g, OR = 1.40, P = 0.01), family history of hypertension (OR = 1.73, P < 0.01), poor education (OR = 1.76, P < 0.01), and alcoholism (OR = 3.05, P < 0.01) significantly predicted later-life high-risk hypertension. For participants with hypertensive family history (57.7%), the association with birth weight became nonsignificant, but poor education (OR = 2.33, P < 0.01) and alcoholism (OR = 3.10, P = 0.01) remained important. For participants without hypertensive family history (42.3%), the effects of lower birth weight (<2,500 g: OR = 2.26, P = 0.02; 2,500– <3,000 g: OR = 1.91, P = 0.01; 3,000– <3,500 g, OR = 1.78, P = 0.01) and alcoholism (OR = 3.23, P < 0.01) remained significant.ConclusionLow birth weight, low education, alcoholism, and hypertensive family history are linked to later-life hypertensive status. Low birth weight is also partly associated with one's genetic background; whereas the association with education and alcoholism are independent from hypertensive family history.

The Prevalence of Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors in a Latino Subgroup: A Rural Batey Population in the Dominican Republic

“…It is well established that a family history of hypertension is a risk factor for developing hypertension, especially at an earlier age [18][19][20]. It is therefore not surprising that we found an association between family history and hypertension.…”

How the Kidney Is Impacted by the Perinatal Maternal Environment to Develop Hypertension1

“…Recent investigations confirm the correlation between birth weight and blood pressure in different populations including Chilean children [26], Brazilian children [27][28][29], and Chinese adults [30]. However, recent studies implicate that the quality of life during the early postnatal years [31][32][33] also exerts an underlying influence on the development of chronic disease in adult life.…”

Association of Low-Protein Supplemented Diets with Fetal Growth in Pregnant Women with CKD

“…Reports of increased risk for intellectual deficits, behavioral difficulties, and metabolic derangements in small, underdeveloped, or premature babies are gaining relevance (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9).…”

“…The literature includes studies on small babies (below 2,500 g at birth), small for gestational age (SGA) babies (birth weight is related to gestational week, sex, and local birth weight references), and fetal growth-restricted babies (in which a previously harmonic growth is impaired by a relevant pathologic event). These definitions partly overlap, but only SGA and growth-restricted babies have a definite pathologic meaning (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13).…”