Further analysis suggested that 35% of the association between exposure and elevated BP risk was mediated by birth weight and BMI z score during childhood. When these factors were added to the models, the association between PM exposure and BP risk was no longer significant.
Although the findings are intriguing, they cannot prove causation, according to the researchers.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Dr. Gold and Dr. Zanobetti have received funding from NIH.
SOURCE: Zhang et al. 2018 Jul. doi: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.117.10944.