Published online January 26, 2009
PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 2 February 2009, pp. 731-734 (doi:10.1542/peds.2008-0277)
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EXPERIENCE & REASON

Blood Pressure Responses to Psychosocial Stress in Young Adults With Very Low Birth Weight: Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults

Riikka Pyhälä, MAa, Katri Räikkönen, PhDa, Kimmo Feldt, MAa, Sture Andersson, MD, PhDb, Petteri Hovi, MDb,c, Johan G. Eriksson, MD, PhDc,d, Anna-Liisa Järvenpää, MD, PhDb and Eero Kajantie, MD, PhDb,c

a Departments of Psychology
d General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
b Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
c Department of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

ABSTRACT

Young adults born prematurely with very low birth weight (≤1500 g) have higher blood pressure than do their counterparts born at term. We tested whether they also have higher blood pressure reactivity to psychosocial stress, which may be a more-specific predictor of long-term cardiovascular morbidity. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels for 44 very low birth weight adults (mean age: 23.1 years; SD: 2.3 years) and 37 control subjects (mean age: 23.6 years; SD: 2.0 years) were measured through noninvasive finger photoplethysmography during a standardized psychosocial stress challenge (Trier Social Stress Test). Baseline and task values and their difference (ie, reactivity) served as outcome variables. In comparison with the control group, the very low birth weight group had 7.9 mm Hg higher diastolic blood pressure during the task and 4.8 mm Hg higher diastolic reactivity, with adjustment for gender and age, height, and BMI at testing. A similar trend was seen for systolic blood pressure during the baseline period and the task, but the group differences were not statistically significant. Our results indicate that very low birth weight is associated with elevated blood pressure reactivity to psychosocial stress and, therefore, may increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity.

Key Words: prematurity • blood pressure • reactivity • stress • adulthood

Abbreviations: VLBW, very low birth weight • BP, blood pressure • SGA, small for gestational age • AGA, appropriate for gestational age • CI, confidence interval

Accepted Jun 6, 2008.


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eLetters:

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Effect of Neurodisability on Blood Pressure Measurements in Infants
Vincenzo Zanardo, et al.
Pediatrics Online, 9 Feb 2009 [Full text]