Sequelae associated with systemic hypertension in infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain correlation between systemic hypertension and respiratory sequelae amongst infants with BPD. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation of six-year data compared infants with severe BPD to infants with no BPD. 7-day morning blood pressure (BP) (36(0)−36(6) week) was compared with 95th centile cut-offs. RESULTS: 57 infants with BPD were compared with 114 infants with no BPD. Gestation and birthweight were comparable (median [interquartile range], (27 [25, 28] vs. 26.5 weeks [25, 28], p = 0.7 and 706 g [611, 884] vs. 730 [630, 895]), p = 0.1. Number of infants having BP ≥ 95th centile was significantly higher in BPD cohort (systolic BP, 23/57 [40.3%] vs. 3/114 [2.6%], p < 0.001 & mean arterial BP, 26/57 [46%] vs. 3/114 [2.6%], p < 0.001). Amongst BPD infants, higher BP was associated with longer duration of respiratory support (median [range], 109 days [81–138] vs. 87 [58–109], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Infants with severe BPD had higher BP compared to those without BPD.