A recent Swiss study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology indicates that these children may be at an increased risk of developing hypertension and heart disease in early life.
Couples unable to get children through natural means usually rely on assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to attain this goal.
These technologies encompass a wide spectrum of treatments that assist people in achieving pregnancy such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), ovulation induction (OI), and donor conception. Developed in the late 1970s, ART has helped millions of individuals and families who cannot conceive naturally to have babies.
It is estimated that over six million persons worldwide were conceived using these fertility treatment technologies.
Initially a preserve of wealthy nations, the technologies have been gaining popularity in African nations such as Kenya due to enhanced income levels and the increasing number of locally trained doctors who are able to administer the various types of fertility treatments to those in need.
Irrespective of their many benefits in the reproductive health field, health experts caution that babies conceived through ART have an elevated risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
A recent Swiss study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology indicates that these children may be at an increased risk of developing hypertension and heart disease in early life.
Authors assessed the blood circulatory system of 54 young healthy adolescents (mean age of 16) who had been conceived through ART.
They did this by evaluating the children’s blood pressure, plaque build-up in arteries, functionality of blood vessels as well as artery stiffness. These parameters help in determining people’s cardiovascular health. Based on the study findings, the researchers discovered that adolescents conceived through ART had high levels of blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) at 119/71 mmHg compared to 115/69 mmHG among children conceived naturally.
Majority of the ART children eventually ended up being diagnosed with arterial hypertension. This refers to blood pressure which acts on the walls of the arteries or blood vessel hence damaging them.
The ailment is generally referred to as a the “silent” disease since it often goes undetected in many patients until it causes havoc to major body organs.
However, regular blood pressure screening can help in early diagnosis and allay adverse effects of the disease.
In dire circumstances, the pressure can impede oxygen supply to the brain and cause blockage or rapture of arteries supplying blood to the brain. This leads to strokes which present a myriad of symptoms such as blurred vision, speech and comprehension problems, as well as paralysis or numbness of the face, arms or legs. Affected individuals will also have difficulties walking.
When blockage happens to arteries supplying blood to the heart, affected individuals will get heart attacks which can lead to sudden death.
"The increased prevalence of arterial hypertension in study participants conceived through ART is what is most concerning," said Emrush Rexhaj, the lead author of the study and director of Arterial Hypertension and Altitude Medicine at Inselspital University Hospital in Bern, Switzerland.
"There is growing evidence that ART alters blood vessels in children, but long-term consequences were not known. We now know that this places ART children at a six times higher rate of hypertension than children conceived naturally," said DrRexhaj.
Larry Weinrauch, a cardiologist at Mount Auburn Hospital in the United States, noted that early study, detection and treatment of ART conceived individuals may be the appropriate course of preventative action to forestall the adverse effects of arterial hypertension.
"We need to be vigilant on the development of elevated blood pressure among children conceived through ART,” said Dr Weinrauch.
With early detection, the pressure can be controlled through lifestyle changes like avoiding foods with too much fat or salt, enhanced physical activity, fighting obesity, as well as avoiding stress, alcohol and tobacco use.
In most instances doctors will also prescribe certain drugs to further aid in reducing blood pressure to recommended safe levels.
The target of an anti-hypertension treatment is bringing back the blood pressure below the 140/90 mmHg line.
Symptoms of arterial hypertension include morning dizziness, fatigue, headaches (on the top or behind the head), vision problems, shortness of breath, nose bleeding and frequent urination.
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