Genetic background of high blood pressure is associated with reduced mortality in premature neonates

ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to determine if a genetic background of high blood pressure is a survival factor in preterm infants.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingPatients were enrolled in 53 neonatal intensive care units.PatientsPreterm infants with a birth weight below 1500 g.ExposuresGenetic score blood pressure estimates were calculated based on adult data. We compared infants with high genetic blood pressure estimates (>75th percentile of the genetic score) to infants with low genetic blood pressure estimates (Main outcome measuresLowest blood pressure on the first day of life and mortality.Results5580 preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 28.1±2.2 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1022±299 g were genotyped and analysed. Infants with low genetic blood pressure estimates had significantly lower blood pressure if compared with infants with high genetic blood pressure estimates (27.3±6.2vs 27.9±6.4, p=0.009, t-test). Other risk factors for low blood pressure included low gestational age (-1.26 mm Hg/week) and mechanical ventilation (-2.24 mm Hg, pConclusionsOur study provides first evidence that a genetic background of high blood pressure may be beneficial with regard to survival of preterm infants