Dataset Information

Birthweight in offspring and cardiovascular mortality in their parents, aunts and uncles: a family-based cohort study of 1.35 million births.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A link between suboptimal fetal growth and higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well documented. It has been difficult to assess the contribution of environmental versus genetic factors to the association, as these factors are closely connected in nuclear families. We investigated the association between offspring birthweight and CVD mortality in parents, aunts and uncles, and examined whether these associations are explained by CVD risk factors.

Methods

We linked Norwegian data from the Medical Birth Registry, the Cause of Death Registry and cardiovascular surveys. A total of 1 353 956 births (1967-2012) were linked to parents and one maternal and one paternal aunt/uncle. Offspring birthweight and CVD mortality association among all relationships was assessed by hazard ratios (HR) from Cox regressions. The influence of CVD risk factors on the associations was examined in a subgroup.

Results

Offspring birthweight was inversely associated with CVD mortality among parents and aunts/uncles. HR of CVD mortality for one standard deviation (SD) increase in offspring birthweight was 0.72 (0.69-0.75) in mothers and 0.89 (0.86-0.92) in fathers. In aunts/uncles, the HRs were between 0.90 (0.86-0.95) and 0.93 (0.91-0.95). Adjustment for CVD risk factors in a subgroup attenuated all the associations.

Conclusions

Birthweight was associated with increased risk of CVD in parents and in aunts/uncles. These associations were largely explained by CVD risk factors. Our findings suggest that associations between offspring birthweight and CVD in adult relatives involve both behavioural variables (especially smoking) and shared genetics relating to established CVD risk factors.

SUBMITTER: Shaikh F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7124506 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Birthweight in offspring and cardiovascular mortality in their parents, aunts and uncles: a family-based cohort study of 1.35 million births.

Shaikh Fareeha F Kjølllesdal Marte Karoline MK Carslake David D Stoltenberg Camilla C Davey Smith George G Næss Øyvind Ø

International journal of epidemiology 20200201 1

<h4>Background</h4>A link between suboptimal fetal growth and higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well documented. It has been difficult to assess the contribution of environmental versus genetic factors to the association, as these factors are closely connected in nuclear families. We investigated the association between offspring birthweight and CVD mortality in parents, aunts and uncles, and examined whether these associations are explained by CVD risk factors.<h4>Methods</h4>We li ...[more]

PMID: 31325357

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Project description:AimsFrailty is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular (CV) events. Limited data exist from the modern era of CV prevention on the relationship between frailty and CV mortality. We hypothesized that frailty is associated with an increased risk of CV mortality.Methods and resultsAll US Veterans aged ≥65 years who were regular users of Veteran Affairs care from 2002 to 2017 were included. Frailty was defined using a 31-item previously validated frailty index, ranging from 0 to 1. The primary outcome was CV mortality with secondary analyses examining the relationship between frailty and CV events (myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularization). Survival analysis models were adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, geographic region, smoking, hyperlipidaemia, statin use, and blood pressure medication use. There were 3 068 439 US Veterans included in the analysis. Mean age was 74.1 ± 5.8 years in 2002, 76.0 ± 8.3 years in 2014, 98% male, and 87.5% White. In 2002, the median (interquartile range) frailty score was 0.16 (0.10-0.23). This increased and stabilized to 0.19 (0.10-0.32) for 2006-14. The presence of frailty was associated with an increased risk of CV mortality at every stage of frailty. Frailty was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, but not revascularization.ConclusionIn this population, both the presence and severity of frailty are tightly correlated with CV death, independent of underlying CV disease. This study is the largest and most contemporary evaluation of the relationship between frailty and CV mortality to date. Further work is needed to understand how this risk can be diminished.Key questionCan an electronic frailty index identify adults aged 65 and older who are at risk of CV mortality and major CV events?Key findingAmong 3 068 439 US Veterans aged 65 and older, frailty was associated with an increased risk of CV mortality at every level of frailty. Frailty was also associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, but not revascularization.Take home messageBoth the presence and severity of frailty are associated with CV mortality and major CV events, independent of underlying CV disease.

Dataset Information

Birthweight in offspring and cardiovascular mortality in their parents, aunts and uncles: a family-based cohort study of 1.35 million births.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Birthweight in offspring and cardiovascular mortality in their parents, aunts and uncles: a family-based cohort study of 1.35 million births.

Similar Datasets

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