# Association between three-timepoint maternal blood pressure trajectories during pregnancy and low birth weight: a longitudinal study based on NHANES 2005–2006

## TL;DR

This study finds that certain patterns of blood pressure changes during pregnancy are linked to a higher risk of low birth weight babies.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific maternal blood pressure trajectory patterns and their association with low birth weight using longitudinal data.

## Key findings

- Three distinct maternal blood pressure trajectory patterns were identified using GBTM.
- High-medium systolic blood pressure trajectories were associated with a 4.48 times higher risk of low birth weight.
- The association was stronger in older mothers, those with higher BMI, and lower income.

## Abstract

Dynamic changes in maternal blood pressure influence neonatal birth weight however, studies investigating the association between blood pressure trajectories during pregnancy and low birth weight (LBW) remain limited. This study aims to identify maternal blood pressure trajectories based on three time points using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) and explore their association with LBW.

This study was based on the NHANES 2005–2006 database and included 330 pregnant women meeting the eligibility criteria (41 cases in the LBW group and 289 in the control group). GBTM was applied to model three blood pressure measurements [systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP)] taken during pregnancy. Multilevel logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between blood pressure trajectories and LBW. Additionally, stratified analyses were conducted to evaluate the modifying effects of age, body mass index (BMI), and education level, and directed acyclic graph (DAG) were employed for covariate selection.

Three distinct blood pressure trajectory patterns were identified. Logistic regression revealed that, compared with the low blood pressure trajectory, mothers with a high-medium SBP trajectory had a significantly increased risk of delivering an LBW infant [odds ratio [OR] = 4.479, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.541–7.895, P < 0.001]. Stratified analyses indicated that this association was more pronounced in mothers who were older than 40 years, had a BMI >28, had lower income, did not consume alcohol, and had abnormal cholesterol levels. The DAG analysis further supported the independent effect of blood pressure trajectories on LBW.

Maternal blood pressure trajectories based on three prenatal measurements are closely associated with LBW, particularly among mothers with a high-medium SBP trajectory. This study underscores the importance of monitoring blood pressure fluctuations during pregnancy and suggests that early intervention may help reduce the risk of LBW.