Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0103 |
| Title: | Birthweight, body-mass index in middle age, and incident coronary heart disease |
| Author(s): | Frankel S, Elwood P, et al. |
| Reference: | Lancet 1996; 348: 1478-80 |
| Place of Study: | South Wales |
| Abstract: | This study included 1,258 men age 45-59 at initial screening who were able to provide birth weight data. The main outcome measure was fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease during ten years of follow up. Higher birth weight was related to lower risk of coronary heart disease during the follow up period. When taking into account the body-mass index a significant interaction was found such that the inverse association between birth weight and risk of coronary heart disease was restricted to people who have high body-mass index in adulthood. The authors conclude that the risk of coronary heart disease seems to be defined by the combined effect of early life and later life exposures. |
| Keyword(s): | birthweight, body mass index, coronary heart disease |
| Discussion: | As in many studies relating an adult condition to birth size, birth order has not been taken into consideration. Yet birth order is the best known single factor influencing birth weight. For example 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, BMJ 1997; 314:1416) |
| See Also: | No related entries mentioned for this entry |
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