About The Study: In a large sample of U.S. children born between 1959 and 1966, higher blood pressure (BP) at age 7 was associated with greater risk of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. These findings build upon prior research that linked childhood systolic BP with fatal CVD in young adulthood, but that sample had a follow-up duration through a mean age of only 46 years. This study extends that work with follow-up into the mid-50s and demonstrated consistency in the magnitude of the associations within siblings, which mitigates concerns regarding unmeasured confounding due to shared family or lifestyle characteristics.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Alexa A. Freedman, PhD, email alexa.freedman@northwestern.edu.
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(doi:10.1001/jama.2025.14405)
Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.
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Media advisory: This study is being presented at the AHA Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025.
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Journal
JAMA