F025: Birth weight influences values and variability of ambulatory blood pressure

An inverse relationship between birth weight (BW) and the risk for developing hypertension has been demonstrated in the last few years. Objective: To study the impact of BW in the values and variability of ambulatory BP in children and adolescents. Subjects and methods: Five-hundred and eighty children (341 girls), with a BW ranging 2.500 to 4.800 kg, were included. Ambulatory BP was assessed at the age of 4 to 18 years during a 24-hour period (Spacelabs 90207). Average and standard deviation of SBP, DBP, HR for 24 hour, daytime and nighttime were calculated. Results: The average of SBP values and SBP variability, estimated as the standard deviation, are shown in the table. Children with the lowest BW, had the highest 24-hour and daytime SBP values, as well as the highest variability, when the parameters were adjusted by age, sex, current height and weight. BW 2.5–3.0 kg 3.0–3.3 kg 3.3–3.6 kg >3.6 kg Number 158 111 167 144 24h SBP 112 ± 0.7* 109.9 ± 0.8 109.6 ± 0.7 110.7 ± 0.7 Day-time SBP 116 ± 0.7* 113.7 ± 0.9 113.1 ± 0.7 113.8 ± 0.8 Sd 24h SBP 10.9 ± 0.2* 10.6 ± 0.2 10.3 ± 0.2 10.0 ± 0.2 Sd Day-time SBP 9.4 ± 0.2 9.2 ± 0.2 8.9 ± 0.2 8.9 ± 0.2 Day/night ratio SBP 1.13 ± 0.01 1.13 ± 0.01 1.13 ± 0.01 1.11 ± 0.01 Adjusted means by age, sex, current height and weight. *p