RESUMO
To investigate the relationship between exposure to famine in fetus and infant period and the risks for hypertension in adulthood. A total of 5 960 participants born between 1956 and 1965 were included in the study and were divided into unexposed group (1963-1965), fetal exposed group (1959-1961), early- childhood exposed group (1956-1958) and transitional group (1962). Logistic regression model was used to explore the association between famine exposure in early life and the risk for hypertension in adulthood. Both the fetal exposure and the early-childhood exposure were the risk factors for hypertension in adulthood (=1.249, 95: 1.049-1.486 and =1.360, 95: 1.102-1.679). Meanwhile, in rural area, compared with unexposed group, the fetal exposure (=1.401, 95: 1.091-1.798) and the early-childhood exposure (=1.460, 95: 1.145-1.862) were also associated with a greater risk of hypertension in adulthood. In addition, fetal exposure and early-childhood exposure to famine in women were associated with 36.0 and 31.9 increased risks for hypertension (95: 7.8-71.7 and 95: 4.8-66.0) according to the stratified analysis. Fetal exposure to famine might increase the risk for hypertension in adulthood.