Birth Weight and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children: Which is its Place?

Abstract

In the last decades, low birth weight (LBW) has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular pathology in adulthood. This parameter is closely related to hypertension, high levels of uric acid, and impaired levels of lipidic film. In our study, we have determined whether there exists any correlation between LBW and variables such as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, uric acid level, glucose level, and lipidic film. We evaluated 81 children with hypertension and 61 children with normal blood pressure. Birth weight was positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (p<0,0401) but with no other variables although, children with LBW had higher values of systolic blood pressure, higher levels of total cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol and also was positively correlated with BMI. We concluded that children with LBW should be followed up during childhood for blood pressure, weight, and metabolic status to prevent the installation of cardiovascular pathology.