Birth Weight in Relation to Post-Natal Growth Patterns as Predictor of Arterial Stiffness and Central Hemodynamics in Young Adults from a Population-based Study

Abstract

Our aim was to examine the impact of mismatch patterns reflecting pre-and post-natal growth conditions on markers of arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics in young adults. Methods: In all, 1056 participants from Malmö Offspring Study, 484 men and 572 women (age-range 18-44 years), were included. All participants were stratified into four subgroups based on low (≤0) or high (>0) Birth Weight z-score (BWz) and low (≤ median) or high (> median) Body Mass Index (BMI) at 20 years age (BMI20). All participants underwent carotidfemoral Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) measurement and pulse wave analysis with Sphygmocor. Additionally, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure data was recorded in a subgroup of 184 participants. Results: Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), central SBP (cSBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and 24-h night-time SBP was higher (p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p = 0.04) in "low BWz/high BMI20" (mismatch group) compared with "low BWz/low BMI20" (reference). The mismatch phenotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of elevated brachial [odds ratio (OR), 2.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.94-3.98] and cSBP (OR, 2.0; CI: 1.38-2.91) in young adults. No differences were observed in PWV or augmentation pressure index in comparison between "low BWz/high BMI20" and "low BWz/low BMI20. " Conclusion: Lower birth weight in combination with a higher attained BMI in young adult life, is associated with higher brachial SBP/DBP and central SBP/DBP. Therefore, children born with low birth weight should be protected from exaggerated catch-up growth to reduce their risk of adult hypertension, obesity, and adverse central hemodynamics.