Systemic Arterial Hypertension in Childhood: A Challenge Related to the Increasing Survival of Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants

Objective To verify the prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and to identify possible early predictors of SAH at ages 2 and 4 years in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Study Design This is a prospective cohort study including inborn children with birth weight (BW) <1,500 g. Arterial blood pressure measurements were performed at 2 and 4 years. Model 1 compared children with and those without SAH at age 4. Model 2 compared children who had SAH at ages 2 and 4 with the others. SAH was diagnosed if the systolic or/and diastolic pressures were above the 95th percentile. Results A total of 198 patients were included during the 5-year study period, of whom 56% had SAH at age 4. In model 1, white matter injury (WMI) and catch-up growth at age 2 were predictors of SAH at age 4. In model 2, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, WMI, catch-up growth at age 2, and BW were predictors of SAH at 2 and 4 years. SAH at age 2 was an independent risk factor for SAH at age 4. After a multivariate analysis of model 2, BW and catch-up growth were associated with SAH. Conclusion Prevalence of SAH was high in VLBW infants; it was associated with low BW and catch-up growth at age 2.