Background: Many epidemiologic studies have explored the association between famine exposure and the risk of hypertension, but the results remain controversial.
Objective: A meta-analysis was performed to determine the association between early life famine exposure, fetal famine exposure, and childhood famine exposure and risk of hypertension.
Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of science, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for relevant articles published up to October 2016. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model.
Results: Sixteen studies from 14 articles for early life famine exposure, 11 studies from 10 articles for fetal famine exposure, and 10 studies from 8 articles for childhood famine exposure were included in our meta-analysis. Compared with unexposed group, the pooled RRs were (1.26; 95% CI, 1.11-1.44), (1.27; 95% CI, 1.08-1.49), and (1.32; 95% CI, 1.15-1.52) for early life famine exposure, fetal famine exposure, and childhood famine exposure, respectively. In subgroup analyses, the above-mentioned associations were consistent in cohort studies, and studies conducted in Asia.
Conclusion: This meta-analysis confirmed the association between exposure to famine in early life and increased risk of hypertension in adulthood. Prevention of malnutrition during early life is an appropriate recommendation to prevent hypertension.
Keywords: Famine exposure; hypertension; malnutrition; meta-analysis.