Newborn Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Relation to Race and to Socioeconomic Class

Abstract

The effect of race and of socioeconomic class upon heart rate and systolic blood pressure distributions was examined in 247 full-term, appropriate birth weight newborns. For each newborn, heart rate and blood pressure measurements obtained during all of the non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) periods of sleep in a single test session were each averaged. Heart rate was significantly faster in black newborns than in white newborns, and this racial difference in heart rate was similar in upper socioeconomic class subjects as in lower socioeconomic class subjects. Newborn systolic blood pressure did not vary as a function of race or of socioeconomic class. Systolic blood pressure correlated positively with the number of feedings from birth, the total fluid intake from birth, and the total sodium ingested from birth.

Antenatal and perinatal factors influencing neonatal blood pressure: a systematic review

“…Another prospective cohort study by Schachter et al comparing 111 African-American with 136 white term newborn infants on day 3 after birth reported a marginally higher SBP for the African-American newborns (mean SBP 76.7 mmHg versus 74.3 mmHg; SD not reported; p = 0.04). However, when adjusted for number of feeds since birth, there was no longer a significant difference [ 24 ].…”

“…The mean SBP values of infants born to mothers from lower socioeconomic classes was reported to be significantly higher than that of infants of mothers from middle and high socioeconomic classes (70.8 ± 8.5 mmHg (low); 68.1 ± 8.2 mmHg (middle), 68.6 ± 8.3 mmHg (high) p = 0.022) in neonates in Nigeria [ 21 ]. Schachter et al reported no effect of socioeconomic class on neonatal BP in infants at an academic hospital in the United States [ 23 , 24 ].…”

“…It can be concluded that maternal age, the advancement of which was shown to correlate with an increase in neonatal BP in two out of four papers, has presented as the most important associated sociodemographic factor in determining BP at birth, in this review [ 10 , 20 , 21 , 24 ]. There are inconsistencies among the studies reporting on associations between ethnicity and socioeconomic status of mothers on neonatal BP, leading to insufficient evidence to draw conclusions on whether or not these factors have a significant impact [ 21 , 23 ].…”

“…The included studies present mixed results regarding the impact of maternal factors on the BP in neonates. Maternal age is reported to be positively associated with neonatal BP in some studies [ 10 , 20 ], but not others [ 23 , 24 ]. Similarly, studies investigating associations between maternal social class and ethnicity and neonatal BP report mixed results [ 21 , 23 , 24 ].…”

“…Maternal age is reported to be positively associated with neonatal BP in some studies [ 10 , 20 ], but not others [ 23 , 24 ]. Similarly, studies investigating associations between maternal social class and ethnicity and neonatal BP report mixed results [ 21 , 23 , 24 ]. Pregnancy related maternal diseases (e.g., maternal hypertension, diabetes or other medical conditions) appear to be associated with increased neonatal BP, but to a variable extent [ 26 , 27 ].…”