Lack of oxygen at birth can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease –

About four million children worldwide are affected annually by a lack of oxygen at birth. Previous research has mostly looked at the relationship between neonatal hypoxia and brain development, but a new study from Karolinska Institutet is looking at how complications of hypoxia affect the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

In the study, researchers followed more than 2.8 million people born between 1988 and 2018. Just over 30,000 of them experienced complications from lack of oxygen at birth. In total, nearly 4,000 cases of cardiovascular disease were detected. There is an increased risk of stroke and heart failure, but there is also a risk of atrial fibrillation.

Few are affected despite the high risk

But despite the increased risks, there are still a few babies who have cardiovascular disease — even if they have as little oxygen as newborns.

Although the absolute risk of cardiovascular disease is low at a young age, our study shows that complications associated with hypoxia at birth are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life, says Nada Razaz, a researcher at Karolinska Institutet. .

After the 30-year follow-up period, only 0.3 percent of people with complications were diagnosed with cardiovascular hypoxia, compared to 0.15 percent of those without complications.

Scientific study:

Low Apgar score, complications of asphyxia at birth, and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease–a nationwide population-based study of term infants.And the The Lancet Regional Health – Europe.

Contact:

Nada Razzaz, Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, [email protected]