Associations between high birth weight, being large for gestational age, and high blood pressure among adolescents: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE: Low birth weight and being small for gestational age are associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, the results from the studies examining the associations between high birth weight (HBW), being large for gestational age (LGA), and high blood pressure (HBP) are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between HBW and being LGA alone and in combinations with body mass index (BMI) categories in adolescence and HBP among Lithuanian adolescents aged 12–15 years. METHODS: The participants with HBP (≥90th percentile) were screened on two separate occasions. Data on the BMI, birth weight (BW), gestational age, and BP were analyzed in 4598 adolescents. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations were estimated using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HBW (>4000 g), being LGA, adolescent overweight/obesity, and HBP were 13.9, 10.4, 14.5, and 25.6%, respectively. After adjustment for age, sex, and BMI, significant positive associations were found between HBW and being LGA and HBP (HBW: aOR 1.34; 95% CI, 1.11–1.63; LGA: aOR 1.44; 95% CI, 1.16–1.79). After adjustment for age and sex and compared to BW 2500–4000 g and being AGA (appropriate for gestational age) with normal weight in adolescence, the combinations that included both risk factors—HBW with overweight/obesity and being LGA with overweight/obesity—showed higher aORs (aOR 4.36; 95% CI, 3.04–6.26; and aOR 5.03; 95% CI, 3.33–7.60, respectively) than those with either of these risk factors alone did. CONCLUSIONS: HBW and being LGA were positively associated with HBP in Lithuanian adolescents aged 12–15 years. The highest odds of having HBP were observed for subjects with both risk factors—neonatal HBW or being LGA and overweight/obesity in adolescence.