High blood pressure may begin in childhood, finds study

Hypertension is a major global health concern, affecting 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years worldwide. It significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks, strokes, and chronic kidney disease. Poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity are modifiable risk factors. High BMI in adults is strongly linked to high blood pressure, but the impact of elevated BMI during childhood and puberty on midlife blood pressure remains unclear.

In the study, researchers examined 1,683 individuals from two population-based cohorts to investigate the relationship between BMI during development and blood pressure in midlife (50-64 years old). They utilized data from the BMI Epidemiology Study Gothenburg (BEST) cohort and the Swedish Cardio-Pulmonary bio-Image Study (SCAPIS). Developmental BMI was assessed using school health records and military enrolment examinations for young adults. Blood pressure measurements in midlife were obtained from SCAPIS participants not taking medication for high blood pressure. All analyses were adjusted for birth year.

The results revealed that in men, both childhood BMI and pubertal BMI change independently contributed to increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure in middle age. For each one unit increase in childhood BMI, there was a 1.30 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure and a 0.75 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure. In women, only pubertal BMI change was significantly associated with increased blood pressure in midlife, with a 0.96 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure and a 0.77 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure. Childhood BMI did not show a significant association with blood pressure in midlife for women.

“Although the differences in blood pressure are not very large, if blood pressure is slightly elevated over many years, it can damage blood vessels and lead to cardiovascular and kidney disease. Our findings indicate that high blood pressure may originate in early life. Excessive fat mass induces chronic low-grade inflammation and endothelial dysfunction [impaired functioning of the lining of the blood vessels] already in childhood. Higher amounts of visceral abdominal fat increase the risk of developing hypertension in adults. And we have previously shown that a large pubertal BMI change in men is associated with visceral obesity [fat around the internal organs] at a young adult age. So enlarged visceral fat mass might, in individuals with a high BMI increase during puberty, be a possible mechanism contributing to higher blood pressure.” explained co-author Dr Jenny Kindblom from Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden.

Reference: Study suggests high blood pressure could begin in childhood; EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF OBESITY; MEETING: European Congress on Obesity (ECO2024)