Infant Psychosocial Environment Predicts Adolescent Cardiometabolic Risk: A Prospective Study

Abstract

To prospectively assess whether the infant psychosocial environment was associated with cardiometabolic risk as early as adolescence. Participants were recruited in Santiago, Chile, and have been followed from infancy. Inclusion criteria included healthy infants with birth weight ≥3kg and a stable caregiver. The psychosocial environment, including depressive symptoms, stressful life events, poor support for child development, father absence, and socioeconomic status, was reported by mothers at 6-12months. Body mass index (BMI) z score was assessed at 5 and 10years. BMI z score, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fat mass and body fat percentage, fasting glucose, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and homeostatic model of insulin resistance were tested in adolescence. Adolescents ranged from 16 to 18years of age (n=588; 48.1% female). A poorer infant psychosocial environment was associated with BMI z score at 10years (β=0.10, 95% CI=0.00-0.19) and in adolescence (β=0.15, 95% CI=0.06-0.24) but not at 5years. A poorer infant psychosocial environment was associated with higher blood pressure (β=0.15, 95% CI=0.05-0.24), greater anthropometric risk (β=0.13, 95% CI=0.03-0.22), greater biomarker (triglycerides, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, total cholesterol) risk (β=0.12, 95% CI=0.02-0.22), and a higher likelihood of metabolic syndrome in adolescence (aOR=1.50; 95% CI=1.06-2.12). These findings demonstrate that a poorer infant psychosocial environment was associated with greater adolescent cardiometabolic risk. The results support screening for infants' psychosocial environments and further research into causality, mechanisms, prevention, and intervention.