Within pair association between birth weight and blood pressure at age 8 in twins from a cohort study

Abstract

Objectives. To study the association between birth weight and blood pressure in children from multiple pregnancies (multiplets), mostly twins, to determine whether maternal or genetic factors are responsible for the association. Design. Cohort study: Setting. Southern Tasmania. Subjects. 888 children including 104 multiplets (32 monozygotic, 72 dizygotic). Main outcome measure. Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg). Results. Blood pressure decreased with birth weight and increased with current body mass. After adjustment for age and body mass, systolic blood pressure changed by -1.94 mm Hg (95% confidence interval -2.89 to -0.98) per 1 kg increase in birth weight of singletons. For multiplets, blo..