Early linear growth retardation and later blood pressure

Objective: To examine the effects of stunting in early childhood on blood pressure in later childhood. Design: A cohort study. Setting: Kingston, Jamaica. Subjects: Seven to eight year old children, 120 stunted (height for age < -2 s.d. of the NCHS references) and 224 non-stunted (height for age > -1 s.d. of the NCHS references) at age 9-24 months. Methods: Stunted and non-stunted children were identified at age 9-24 months by house to-house survey of poor neighbourhoods in Kingston, Jamaica. Blood pressure and anthropometry were measured at age 7-8 y. Birth weight was obtained from hospital records (73%) or maternal recall. Results: The stunted children remained shorter and thinner than the non-stunted ones. In multiple regression analysis adjusting for size and pulse rate, the stunted children had higher systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05). Birth weight was not a significant predictor of systolic blood pressure. Conclusion: Stunting in early childhood may increase the risk of elevated systolic blood pressure in later life. Sponsorship: Nutricia Research Foundation, The Netherlands and the Commonwealth Caribbean Medical Research Council.