Dataset Information

Birth weight for gestational age and later cardiovascular health: a comparison between longitudinal Finnish and indigenous Australian cohorts

ABSTRACT: Abstract

Introduction

Small or large birth weight for gestational age has been linked with later cardiovascular disease risk. However, cardiovascular risk markers from childhood to adulthood according to birth weight in diverse longitudinal settings globally have not been extensively studied.

Objectives

To examine the relationship between birth weight and cardiovascular risk profile from childhood until young adulthood in two geographically and socioeconomically distinct cohorts.

Methods

Data were derived from two longitudinal birth cohort studies; one from southern Finland (Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project, STRIP) and one from northern Australia comprising Indigenous Australians (Aboriginal Birth Cohort, ABC). The sample included 747 Finnish participants and 541 Indigenous Australians with data on birth weight, gestational age and cardiovascular risk factors (body mass index [BMI]), waist-to-height ratio [WHtR], lipid profile, blood pressure) collected at ages 11, 18 and 25 or 26 years. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was assessed at age 18 or 19 years. Participants were categorised according to birth weight for gestational age (small [SGA], appropriate [AGA] or large [LGA]). Associations between birth weight category and cardiovascular risk markers were studied using a repeated measures ANOVA.

Results

Higher birth weight category was associated with higher BMI later in life in both cohorts (p=.003 for STRIP and p<.0001 for ABC). In the ABC, higher birth weight category was also associated with higher WHtR (p=.004). In the ABC, SGA participants had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure than AGA participants (p=.028 for systolic, p=.027 for diastolic) and lower systolic blood pressure than LGA participants (p=.046) at age 25. In the STRIP cohort, SGA participants had lower cIMT than LGA participants (p=.024).

Conclusions

Birth weight can predict future cardiovascular risk profile in diverse populations. Thus, it needs to be included in targeted public health interventions for tackling the obesity pandemic and improving cardiovascular health worldwide. Key messages The strongest association between birth weight and later cardiovascular risk profile was manifested as differences in body mass index in two culturally and geographically distinct cohorts. Foetal growth is a determinant for later cardiovascular health in diverse populations, indicating a need to focus on maternal and foetal health to improve cardiovascular health worldwide.

SUBMITTER: Sjoholm P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8583840 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectivesIndigenous Australians are born smaller than non-Indigenous Australians and are at an increased risk of early onset of frailty. This study aimed to identify the relationship between birth size, current size and grip strength, as an early marker of frailty, in Indigenous and non-Indigenous young adults.DesignCross sectional data from two longitudinal studies: Aboriginal birth cohort (Indigenous) and top end cohort (non-Indigenous).SettingParticipants reside in over 40 urban and remote communities across the Northern Territory, Australia.ParticipantsYoung adults with median age 25 years (IQR 24-26); 427 participants (55% women), 267 (63%) were remote Indigenous, 55 (13%) urban Indigenous and 105 (25%) urban non-Indigenous.Outcome measuresReliable birth data were available. Anthropometric data (height, weight, lean mass) and grip strength were directly collected using standardised methods. Current residence was classified as urban or remote.ResultsThe rate of low birthweight (LBW) in the non-Indigenous cohort (9%) was significantly lower than the Indigenous cohort (16%) (-7%, 95%?CI -14 to 0, p=0.03). Indigenous participants had lower grip strength than non-Indigenous (women, -2.08, 95%?CI -3.61 to -0.55, p=0.008 and men, -6.2, 95%?CI -9.84 to -2.46, p=0.001). Birth weight (BW) was associated with grip strength after adjusting for demographic factors for both women (?=1.29, 95%?CI 0.41 to 2.16, p=0.004) and men (?=3.95, 95%?CI 2.38 to 5.51, p<0.001). When current size (lean mass and body mass index [BMI]) was introduced to the model BW was no longer a significant factor. Lean mass was a positive indicator for grip strength, and BMI a negative indicator.ConclusionsAs expected women had significantly lower grip strength than men. Current size, in particular lean mass, was the strongest predictor of adult grip strength in this cohort. BW may have an indirect effect on later grip strength via moderation of lean mass development, especially through adolescence and young adulthood.

Project description:Rationale:Improved birth weight outcomes have been reported for infants of mothers imprisoned during pregnancy relative to similarly disadvantaged mothers, however, findings are equivocal and evidence is lacking from jurisdictions outside the United States. Objective:To investigate whether maternal imprisonment during pregnancy is a determinant of low birth weight (<2500?g) for Indigenous and non-Indigenous infants in Western Australia. Methods:A longitudinal sample of 41,910 singleton infants born in Western Australia (October 1985-December 2013), was identified with linked administrative data and examined by five mutually exclusive categories of maternal corrections history; (i) imprisonment in pregnancy, (ii) imprisonment before pregnancy, (iii) first imprisonment after birth, (iv) community-based corrections record without imprisonment at any time, and (v) no corrections record at any time. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression was performed to determine key risk factors for low birth weight. Prevalence of risk factors were calculated by maternal corrections history. Results:After adjusting for other significant pregnancy risks, maternal imprisonment before (Indigenous RR 2.02, 95%CI 1.84-2.22, p<.001; non-Indigenous RR 2.48, 95%CI 1.98-3.12, p<.001) or during (Indigenous RR 1.96, 95%CI 1.68-2.29, p<.001; non-Indigenous RR 2.12, 95%CI 1.48-3.03, p<.001) pregnancy remained strong determinants of low birth weight, and carried greater risk than imprisonment after birth (Indigenous RR 1.58, 95%CI 1.44-1.74, p<.001; non-Indigenous RR 1.75, 95%CI 1.51-2.04, p<.001) or community-based corrections orders (Indigenous RR 1.32, 95%CI 1.21-1.43, p<.001; non-Indigenous RR 1.40, 95%CI 1.05-1.88, p<.001), relative to no corrections record. Pregnancy risk factors more prevalent amongst infants whose mothers were imprisoned before or during pregnancy included substance-use related service contacts, hospitalisation for injury, mental health service contacts, and having a sibling in contact with the child protection system. Conclusion:Western Australian infants with mothers imprisoned before or during pregnancy experience elevated risk of low birth weight and exposure to maternal substance use, injury and mental distress in pregnancy.