Key result
Early life factors, including birthing parent pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational diabetes, were significantly associated with four distinct systolic blood pressure percentile trajectories in children.
Why the study?
Elevated BP in childhood predicts adult hypertension, prompting characterization of BP percentile trajectories and associated factors in young children.
Population
1040 children aged 3-9 years in Durham, North Carolina
Comparison
Early life demographic, social, and behavioral factors
Design
Prospective birth cohort study
Authors
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Maternal factors tied to childhood BP trajectories warrant caution in risk assessment; leaves open causal pathways and prevention targets pending randomized evidence.
Cohort (n=1,040)
Identification of distinct childhood blood pressure trajectories and their associated early life factors may assist in targeted interventions for children at high risk of adult hypertension.
Butts-Jackson et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Elevated blood pressure (n=1,040). Early life factors was evaluated on Systolic blood pressure (SBP) percentile trajectories. Early life factors, including birthing parent pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational diabetes, were significantly associated with four distinct systolic blood pressure percentile trajectories in children.