Babies born with reduced gestational age had an increased risk of developing high blood pressure later in their life. Study conducted by Dr. Stefan Johansson, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm reported in the Journal Circulation that men born with reduced pre-term pregnancy were more prone to high blood pressure compared to normal born babies.
The study results were obtained after compiling data from 329,495 Swedish men born between 1973 and 1981 their blood pressures were determined 20 years later. On basis of data obtained from their birth records the study recruits were classified as full term babies and Pre-term babies. The babies who were born with a very minimal days of gestational age had 93% of developing high blood pressure compared to normally born babies.The authors have not yet found the reasons for increased blood pressure in men born with decreased gestational age but feel that it may be caused due to change in hormone production that may lead to vascular change and urge all pre-term born babies to have a regular check and follow-up of their blood pressure.
