Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors During The First Year of Life 519

Abstract

The pattern of change in plasma total cholesterol (TC) and blood pressure(SBP and DBP) over time and their relations to anthropometric measurements were observed longitudinally. In 40 infants who were seen at a pediatric clinic in The Woodlands, Texas, TC (by the Reflotron), SBP, DBP (by the Dinamap), weight and body length were measured at ages 0.5, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months. For TC, in males, the greatest increment in median values, from 114 to 134 mg/dl, occurred between ages 0.5 and 2.0 months. For females, the greatest increment in TC, from 131 to 141 mg/dl, occurred between ages 9 and 12 months. There were strong tracking correlations between paired TC measurements taken as early as age 0.5 months with later measurements. These correlations were stronger and more often significant for males than for females. The associations of body measurements with TC were modest at most, and somewhat stronger for females than for males. Infants who received breast milk had mean TC values 47 mg/dl higher than infants receiving formula only during the period of breast feeding. This difference disappeared by age 12 months. For both SBP and DBP, for males and females togather, the greatest increment (10 mmHg) occurred between ages 0.5 and 2.0 months. DBP continued to increase to age 4 months. Tracking correlations of SBP and DBP were generallyweak and not significant for either gender. The correlations between DBP, but not SBP, and body measurements were significant only for females at age 12 months. Maternal history of CVD risk factors was significantly related to SBP in females but not males. For DBP, neither maternal nor paternal history was related. This study further documents changes in TC and blood pressure measurements during infancy with gender differences in behavior of these measurements at this early age.