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Pubertal timing and a family history of hypertension: Prospective cohort study
Author(s) -
Zheng Wei,
Suzuki Kohta,
Sato Miri,
Yokomichi Hiroshi,
Shinohara Ryoji,
Yamagata Zentaro
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.12821
Subject(s) - medicine , family history , prospective cohort study , anthropometry , body mass index , pediatrics , cohort , cohort study , confidence interval , confounding , pregnancy , demography , genetics , sociology , biology
Abstract Background Hypertension is heritable, and genetic factors likely exert an effect from childhood. Puberty is an early life milestone that may relate to adult hypertension. Therefore, this study examined whether there is an association between a family history of hypertension and pubertal growth. Methods The participants were children from a prospective cohort study called Project Koshu, who were born between 1991 and 1998 in Japan. Data on family history of hypertension, maternal characteristics, birth and early life factors were collected from the questionnaire administered to the mothers at the time of pregnancy registration or medical check‐up. Child age at peak height velocity (early or non‐early) was calculated from the anthropometric data collected during annual school check‐up. Results Data on 919 children (479 boys and 440 girls) were included in the analysis; 478 participants had a family history of hypertension. After adjustment for potential confounders (birth month, maternal body mass index, maternal work status, maternal education, and paternal education), early age at peak height velocity was found to be associated with a family history of hypertension (OR, 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–2.24; P = 0.03) and specifically, with having at least one maternal hypertensive relative (OR, 1.81; 95%CI: 1.23–2.68; P = 0.003). Conclusions Together with previous reports on the relationship between puberty and adult hypertension, the present results suggest that the timing of pubertal growth is involved in the process of hypertension development in people with a family history of hypertension. Further confirmative studies are needed.