Association of Prepregnancy Cardiometabolic Markers With Early Childhood Weight in a Study of Hispanic Dyads.

Abstract

To investigate associations between prepregnancy cardiometabolic risk factors and early childhood weight status, independent of genetic susceptibility. The ancillary study of the HCHS/SOL (Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos) included 227 dyads consisting of Hispanic/Latina mothers who had singleton live births between baseline and visit 2 and their children, aged 3-9 years. Child outcomes included body mass index (BMI) z-scores, and weight status categories. Maternal prepregnancy biomarkers included fasting triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), glucose, insulin, blood pressure, BMI, and waist circumference. Child DNA was used to calculate a polygenic risk score for obesity. Linear and logistic regression models adjusted for confounders and child genetic risk. On average, 10.9 years elapsed between maternal baseline assessment and child anthropometry. At baseline, 4.8% of women reported having diabetes or hypertension, one-third had obesity (BMI 30 or higher), and more than half had elevated waist circumference or low HDL-C. Among children (mean age 7.5 years), 17.2% were categorized as having overweight and 27.8% were categorized as having obesity. Higher maternal BMI, larger waist circumference, and higher fasting insulin and diastolic blood pressure were significantly associated with higher child BMI z-scores. A 1-SD increase in maternal BMI (6.1 units) or waist circumference (13.3 cm) was linked to greater odds of child overweight or obesity. Elevated maternal insulin was associated with having a child with overweight status, and higher diastolic blood pressure with having a child in the obesity category in minimally adjusted models. Prepregnancy cardiometabolic risk factors in Hispanic/Latina women are associated with higher BMI and obesity risk in their children, independent of genetic predisposition. These findings highlight the prepregnancy period as a critical window for interventions to improve intergenerational health outcomes.