Maternal Smoking: A Life Course Blood Pressure Determinant?

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Cabral, M (Author) Other; Fonseca, MJ (Author) Other; Gonzalez Beiras, C (Author) Other; Santos AC (Author) FMUP; Correia Costa, L (Author) Other; Barros H (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: NICOTINE & TOBACCO RESEARCH

Vol. 20

Pages: 674-680

ISSN: 1462-2203

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 13 Citations

Scopus - 13 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-ABC

DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntx117

Abstract (EN): Introduction: Exposure to maternal smoking early in life may affect blood pressure (BP) control mechanisms. We examined the association between maternal smoking (before conception, during pregnancy, and 4 years after delivery) and BP in preschool children. Methods: We evaluated 4295 of Generation XXI children, recruited at birth in 2005-2006 and ]reevaluated at the age of 4. At birth, information was collected by face-to-face interview and additionally abstracted from clinical records. At 4-year follow-up, interviews were performed and children's BP measured. Linear regression models were fitted to estimate the association between maternal smoking and children's Results: Children of smoking mothers presented significantly higher BP levels. After adjustment for maternal education, gestational hypertensive disorders, and child's body mass index, children exposed during pregnancy to maternal smoking presented a higher systolic BP (SBP) z-score (beta = 0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04 to 0.14). In crude models, maternal smoking was associated with higher SBP z-score at every assessed period. However, after adjustment, an attenuation of the association estimates occurred (beta = 0.08, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.13 before conception; beta = 0.07, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.12; beta = 0.04, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.10; and beta = 0.06, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.13 for the first, second, and third pregnancy trimesters, respectively; and beta = 0.07, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.12 for current maternal smoking). No significant association was observed for diastolic BP z-score levels. Conclusion: Maternal smoking before, during, and after pregnancy was independently associated with systolic BP z-score in preschool children. This study provides additional evidence to the public health relevance of maternal smoking cessation programs if early cardiovascular health of children is envisaged.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7