Birth Weight and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in U.S. Children and Adolescents

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between birth weight and cardiovascular disease among youth. We studied eligible children and adolescents (6–15 y) using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles 2001–2010. Survey and examination data included demographic and early childhood characteristics, history of diabetes and use of related medications, current health status, physical activity information, and anthropometric measurements, dietary data (total energy, fat, sodium, and total sugar intakes). Cardiovascular disease risk factors included systolic blood pressure (SBP), plasma C‐reactive protein (CRP) and lipid profiles. Results indicated that birth weight was inversely associated with SBP among girls; SBP levels increased 1.7 mmHg for each 1,000g decrease in birth weight (p<0.001) after controlling for potential confounders. In general, the associations between CRP and lipid profiles and birth weight were not significant overall; however, the associations with low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels varied across racial groups. Among Mexican Americans, LDL‐C increased 4.9 mg/dL for each 1,000 g increase in birth weight (p=0.028); among non‐Hispanic Blacks, LDL‐C increased 4.7 mg/dL for each 1,000g decrease in birth weight (p=0.017); however, there was no significant relationship among non‐Hispanic Whites (p=0.147). In summary, these results support a role for low birth weight, independent of the strong effects of current body weight status, as a contributor to CVD risk status in youth. Since CVD begins in childhood, low birth weight may be an important contributing factor to coronary events later in life.