Abstract
Objective To verify the prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and to identify
possible early predictors of SAH at ages 2 and 4 years in very low birth weight (VLBW)
infants.
Study Design This is a prospective cohort study including inborn children with birth weight (BW)
<1,500 g. Arterial blood pressure measurements were performed at 2 and 4 years. Model
1 compared children with and those without SAH at age 4. Model 2 compared children
who had SAH at ages 2 and 4 with the others. SAH was diagnosed if the systolic or/and
diastolic pressures were above the 95th percentile.
Results A total of 198 patients were included during the 5-year study period, of whom 56%
had SAH at age 4. In model 1, white matter injury (WMI) and catch-up growth at age
2 were predictors of SAH at age 4. In model 2, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, WMI, catch-up
growth at age 2, and BW were predictors of SAH at 2 and 4 years. SAH at age 2 was
an independent risk factor for SAH at age 4. After a multivariate analysis of model
2, BW and catch-up growth were associated with SAH.
Conclusion Prevalence of SAH was high in VLBW infants; it was associated with low BW and catch-up
growth at age 2.
Keywords
systemic arterial hypertension - prematurity - early childhood - neonate - child
