Origins of disparities in cardiovascular disease: birth weight, body mass index, and young adult systolic blood pressure in the national longitudinal study of adolescent health.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

We evaluated the contributions of birth weight and current body mass index (BMI) to racial/ethnic disparities in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the United States.

Methods

Participants were 10,046 young adults (ages 24-32) in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. SBP, BMI, and other contemporaneous factors were assessed at Wave IV (2007-2008); birth weight and other early life factors were reported at Wave I (1994-1995). Data were analyzed using sex- and race-stratified multivariable regression models.

Results

Racial/ethnic disparities in SBP were limited to black and white females. The black-white female disparity in SBP was 3.36 mmHg and was partially explained by current BMI, but not birth weight. Associations between birth weight and SBP w

SUBMITTER: Richardson LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3251513 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature