09.02 Relationship Between Growth and Aortic Stiffness in Early Years of Life

Abstract

Introduction

The exact course of aortic stiffness in early years of life is not known. This study was designed to test the relationship between aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and the parameters of growth amongst children aged between 0 and 2 years. Our hypothesis was that aPWV is influenced by growth velocity.

Methods

Data was obtained from 517 baby-visits between 0 to 24 months of age, and included measurement of weight, length, blood pressure (BP) and aPWV.

Results

The weight, BMI and rate of BMI change are associated with aPWV and BP at birth, 1 and 2 years of age as shown in the table. aPWV

Table 1

increased by 6% from birth to 12 months and 37% from 12 to 24 months with an overall increase from birth to 24 months of 45%. Adjusting for gender, ethnicity, weight-rate and height, pulse pressure was found to be independently influenced by pulse pressure at age of 1 year (Beta = –0.027, p = 0.030; 95% CI –0.05 to –0.003), but this association was lost at age of 2 years.

Conclusions

Aortic stiffness is associated with increasing age, weight and BMI, as well as the rate of change of the latter two. All these variables are recognised cardiovascular risk factors and should be controlled from an early age.