Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0072 |
| Title: | Size at birth and blood pressure: cross sectional study in 8-11 year old children |
| Author(s): | Taylor SJC, Whincup PH, et al. |
| Reference: | BMJ 1997; 314: 475-80 |
| Place of Study: | England and Wales |
| Abstract: | School based survey conducted in ten towns. The subjects were represented by 3010 singleton children with physical measurements and information on birth weight from parental questionnaires. Hospital birth records were examined from 1573 children. Blood pressure was measured at 8-11 years. After adjustment for current body size there was no significant association between birth weight and diastolic blood pressure. The association with systolic pressure was significantly stronger in girls than in boys. Head circumference and placental weight were inversely correlated with subsequent blood pressure in girls and the ratio placental weight : birth weight was positively associated with blood pressure in boys. |
| Keyword(s): | birth weight, Blood pressure, head circumference, placental weight, size at birth |
| Discussion: | As in many studies relating an adult disease to birth weight, birth order has not been taken into consideration. Yet birth order is the best known single factor influencing birth weight. According to a British calculation the average difference in birth weight between first born and second born children is 138 grams. (see Odent M., Tsujino J., Studies exploring health in relation to intrauterine life should look at birth order (letter), BMJ 1997; 314:1416. This letter to BMJ was inspired by Taylor and Whincup et al's study). |
| See Also: | No related entries mentioned for this entry |
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