Key result
Low birth weight was associated with significantly lower large artery compliance compared to normal birth weight (13.3 vs. 15.5 ml/mm Hg x 10; P=0.0002) in asymptomatic younger adults.
Why the study?
Does low birth weight impair pulsatile arterial function in asymptomatic younger adults?
Cohort (n=538)
Does low birth weight impair pulsatile arterial function in asymptomatic younger adults?
Low birth weight is associated with impaired large artery compliance in young adulthood, which may partly explain the increased cardiovascular risk observed in this population.
Should not yet change practice; leaves open whether low birth weight–related compliance deficits mediate later cardiovascular risk.
BACKGROUND: Low birth weight, an indicator of intrauterine growth restriction, is associated with adult cardiovascular (CV) disease, type 2 diabetes, and adverse levels of CV risk factors. Impaired pulsatile arterial function is also an independent predictor of early vascular damage and related CV outcome. However, information is scant regarding the influence of low birth weight on pulsatile arterial function. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 538 black and white subjects (29% black, 42% male) aged 18-44 years (mean 36.7 years) enrolled in the Bogalusa Heart Study. Subjects were categorized into low birth weight and normal birth weight. Pulsatile arterial function was assessed in terms of large artery compliance, small artery compliance, and systemic vascular resistance by noninvasive radial artery pressure pulse contour analysis. RESULTS: Blacks and females had significantly lower birth weight compared to their counterparts. Low vs. normal birth weight group had lower large artery compliance (13.3 ml/mm Hg x 10 vs. 15.5 ml/mm Hg x 10, P = 0.0002). Further, after adjusting for age, race, and sex, the large artery compliance increased across quartiles of increasing birth weight specific for race, sex, and gestational age (P for trend = 0.03). In multivariate regression model, adding race, sex, age, body surface area, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio one by one, the effect was attenuated but significant (beta = -0.067, P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: The observed deleterious association of low birth weight on arterial wall dynamics in asymptomatic younger adults may account in part for the adverse CV risk in the Bogalusa sample.
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Bhuiyan et al. (2009) conducted a cohort in Asymptomatic younger adults (n=538). Low birth weight vs. Normal birth weight was evaluated on Large artery compliance (p=0.0002). Low birth weight was associated with significantly lower large artery compliance compared to normal birth weight (13.3 vs. 15.5 ml/mm Hg x 10; P=0.0002) in asymptomatic younger adults.
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