Birth Weight in Relation to Post-Natal Growth Patterns as Predictor of Arterial Stiffness and Central Hemodynamics in Young Adults from a Population-based Study

Objective: Our aim was to examine the impact of mismatch patterns reflecting pre- and post-natal growth conditions on markers of arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics in young adults. Methods: In all, 1056 participants from Malmo Offspring Study, 484 men and 572 women (age-range 18-44 years), were included. All participants were stratified into four subgroups based on low (<= 0) or high (>0) Birth Weight z-score (BWz) and low (<= median) or high (> median) Body Mass Index (BMI) at 20 years age (BMI20). All participants underwent carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) measurement and pulse wave analysis with Sphygmocor. Additionally, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure data was recorded in a subgroup of 184 participants. Results: Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), central SBP (cSBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and 24-h night-time SBP was higher (p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p = 0.04) in "low BWz/high BMI20" (mismatch group) compared with "low BWz/low BMI20" (reference). The mismatch phenotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of elevated brachial [odds ratio (OR), 2.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.94-3.98] and cSBP (OR, 2.0; CI: 1.38-2.91) in young adults. No differences were observed in PWV or augmentation pressure index in comparison between "low BWz/high BMI20" and "low BWz/low BMI20." Conclusion: Lower birth weight in combination with a higher attained BMI in young adult life, is associated with higher brachial SBP/DBP and central SBP/DBP. Therefore, children born with low birth weight should be protected from exaggerated catch-up growth to reduce their risk of adult hypertension, obesity, and adverse central hemodynamics. HIGHLIGHTS We aimed to examine the impact of mismatch patterns between pre- and post-natal growth conditions on markers of arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics in 1056 participants from a population-based study in Sweden, 484 men and 572 women in the age-range 18-44 years. center dot Lower birth weight was associated with higher Brachial DBP (bDBP), higher central SBP/DBP, and higher Aix. center dot Lower birth weight in combination with a higher attained BMI in young adult life (the mismatch phenotype) associates with higher bSBP/bDBP and higher central blood pressure. center dot We suggest an additive hemodynamic programming effect of weight gain during the two first decades of life following low birth weight. (C) 2021 The Authors. Publishing services by Atlantis Press International B.V.