Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-ws8qp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-27T23:21:39.094Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Association of Birth Weight and Current Body Size to Blood Pressure in Female Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Caryl A. Nowson*
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, Deakin University. nowson@deakin.edu.au
Robert J. MacInnis
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital.
John L. Hopper
Affiliation:
Centre for Genetic Epidemiology, The University of Melbourne.
Jo L. Alexander
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Lynda M. Paton
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Claire Margerison
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital.
John D. Wark
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital.
*
*Address for correspondence: C. Nowson, Department of Health Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood VIC 3082, Australia.

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

It has been proposed that low birth weight is associated with high levels of blood pressure in later life. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of blood pressure to birth weight and current body size during growth and adulthood. A total of 711 female multiple births, with one group of 244 in their growth phase mean age 12.0 (2.3)(SD) years and the other of 467 adults (mean age 35.2 (12.6) years), had height, weight and both systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures measured, and self-reported their birth weight. Regression analyses were performed to assess the cross-sectional and within-pair associations of blood pressure to birth weight, with and without adjustments for current body size. Within-pair analysis was based on 296 twin pairs. Cross-sectionally, a reduction in birth weight of 1 kg was associated with 2 to 3 mm Hg higher age-adjusted SBP, which was of marginal significance and explained about 2% of the population variance. Adjustment for body mass index did not significantly change this association. Within-pair analyses found no association between birth weight and SBP or DBP, even after adjusting for current body size. After age, current body size was the strongest predictor of systolic BP. The weak association of blood pressure to birth weight cross-sectionally is of interest, but any within-pair effect of birth weight on blood pressure must be minimal compared with the effect of current body size.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001