Association of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with infant growth in the first 36 months of life

To investigate the association of chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia diseases with infant growth in the first 36 months of life, we conducted a retrospective birth cohort of 31,734 children born in Zhoushan Maternal and Child Care Hospital between January 2001 and May 2018. Birthweight, gestational age, and infant growth (weight, height, weight/height-for-age Z score, the weight gain during childhood) were the main outcomes. The associations of chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia diseases with birth outcomes and infant growth at children's age of 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months were analyzed by multivariable regression models. Gestational hypertension, preeclampsia diseases, and chronic hypertension were significantly associated with lower birthweight and shorter gestational age. Both gestational hypertension and preeclampsia diseases were respectively inversely associated with weight, weight-for-age Z score, height, and height-for-age Z score of children in the whole sample and sub-sample data analysis from birth to the age of 36 months, although correction for birthweight rendered the associations nonsignificant. No significant association of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia diseases, and chronic hypertension with weight gain was found. Conclusion: The inverse associations of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia diseases with infant growth in early childhood were mainly mediated by the effect of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia diseases on lower birthweight.

Automated summary

The study investigated the association between chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia diseases, and infant growth in the first 36 months of life. It was found that the lower birthweight associated with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia diseases played a significant role in their inverse relationship with infant growth.