Adult cardivascular risk factors in premature babies

The mothers of 72 low-birthweight (2000g) babies born on the same day and matched for sex, birth order, and father's social status were recruited. Low-birthweight premature babies had higher adult blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose than controls. Among low birthweight babies there was no difference in blood pressure or plasma glucose between those whose low birthweight was appropriate for gestational age and the small for date babies. The results of this study lead to reconsider the hypothesis that growth retardation in utero is at the origin of adult cardiovascular diseases.