Role of Birth Weight and Postnatal Growth on Pulse Wave Velocity in Teenagers

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 373 - 379
• Main Authors: Salvi, Paolo, M.D., Ph.D, Revera, Miriam, M.D., Ph.D, Joly, Laure, M.D., Ph.D, Reusz, George, M.D., Ph.D, Iaia, Maurizio, M.D, Benkhedda, Salim, M.D., Ph.D, Chibane, Ahcene, M.D., Ph.D, Parati, Gianfranco, M.D., Ph.D, Benetos, Athanase, M.D., Ph.D, Temmar, Mohamed, M.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adiposity - physiology; Adiposity rebound; Adolescent; Adolescents; Anthropometry; Arterial stiffness; Biological and medical sciences; Birth weight; Blood Pressure - physiology; Cardiac dysrhythmias; Cardiology. Vascular system; Carotid Arteries - physiology; Childhood; Female; Femoral Artery - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth and Development - physiology; Heart; Humans; Illness and personality; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Life Style; Male; Medical sciences; Paediatrics; Parameters; Pediatrics; Personality, behavior and health; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Pulse Wave Analysis; Pulse wave velocity; Radial Artery - physiology; Regression Analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Timing; Upper limbs; Young Adult; Adiposity rebound; Pulse wave velocity; Birth weight; Arterial stiffness; Childhood; Human; Pregnancy disorders; Low birth weight; Cardiovascular disease; Arterial pulse; Velocity; Newborn diseases; Prematurity; Correlation analysis; Adolescent; Risk factor; Hemodynamics; Life style
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.01.009

Abstract Purpose Low birth weight and accelerated postnatal growth appear to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. The aim of the present study was to characterize the factors determining pulse wave velocity (PWV) in teenagers and, in particular, to verify the relationship with birth weight, postnatal growth, timing of adiposity rebound, lifestyle, and hemodynamic parameters. Methods Carotid-femoral and carotid-radial pulse wave velocities of 558 healthy teenagers (age range: 16.2–19.9 years) were determined by means of a PulsePen tonometer. Birth weight and gestational age were obtained from obstetrical records, and data regarding postnatal growth were obtained from pediatric clinical records. Results No change in aortic PWV was found in association with birth weight, postnatal growth, and timing of adiposity rebound. However, the study showed a strong association between accelerated growth from 0 to 12 months and carotid-radial PWV (trend: p = .02). Subjects with birth weight values <2,500 g showed higher values of upper limb PWV ( p < .05) and higher values of diastolic and mean arterial pressure ( p < .05). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that mean arterial pressure, age, and height were the main independent factors determining aortic PWV in this young population. Conclusions These results suggest that there is no linear correlation between birth weight and hemodynamic parameters in teenagers; however, subjects characterized by very low birth weight and accelerated postnatal weight gain appear to demonstrate increased upper limb PWV and diastolic and mean arterial pressure values.