Assisted reproductive technology (ART) may lead to adverse cardiovascular health outcomes in the offspring, suggests an observational study conducted in China.

Children conceived by ART were found to have increased blood pressure and adverse changes in left ventricular structure and function in comparison with children who were naturally conceived, noted researchers.

Investigators looked at the cardiovascular health of 382 children conceived by ART and 382 children who were naturally conceived. Children conceived by ART had statistically significantly increased mean systolic blood pressure (105.5 mmHg vs. 103.5 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (67.2 mmHg vs 62.2 mmHg). The prevalence of elevated blood pressure was 21% in the ART group (80 children) compared to 13% in the naturally conceived group (50 children). The prevalence of high blood pressure was 18.1% in the ART group (69 children) compared to 14.1% in the naturally conceived group (54 children). Additionally, ART group had more left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 64.6% in the ART group compared with 66.7% in the naturally conceived children. The findings are published online in JAMA Network Open… (Medscape)