P2.01 Initial Data on the Natural History of Apwv in West African Infants

Abstract

Introduction

Aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) may measure vascular structure and function (distensibility) more precisely than blood pressure (BP). Few data exist on arterial distensibility in infancy; none on the effects of malaria in African children.

Methods:

Healthy women with singleton pregnancies were recruited at Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Measures of anthropometry, resting BP and aPWV using a Doppler device were taken on mothers and their babies at birth and three months later.

Results:

147 mother-baby pairs were measured at birth; 74 mothers had slide-positive malaria. 79 mother-baby pairs were measured at 3 months of age, but only 24 at both times. At birth, mean (SD) aPWV of infants whose mothers had malaria was 4.6 (1.6) m/s and SBP/DBP of 75.0/38.5 mmHg compared with those without 5.6 (1.6) m/s and 72.0/35.8 mmHg. Adjusting for birthweight, these differences were not significant.

By 3 months, children with maternal malaria had aPWV & BP of 7.2 (2.8) m/s and 88.2/47.8 mmHg compared to those without at 7.0 (3.0) m/s and 87.6/48.6 mmHg.

Neonatal aPWVwas significantly related only to heart rate (R = 0.40;p < 0.001), but at 3 months to heart rate (R = 0.27;p = 0.015) and maternal age (R = 0.25;p = 0.028), independent of maternal and infant BP.

Discussion:

aPWV on average increased during the first three months of life, uncorrelated between birth and 3 months. Children with maternal malaria had slightly lower aPWV at birth, catching up by 3 months. Whether higher aPWV develops sooner in babies with malaria than in those without malaria will be examined in follow-up.