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Cardiovascular risk factors in extended family members and birthweight in offspring

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2021

Fareeha Shaikh Open the ORCID record for Fareeha Shaikh [Opens in a new window] ,
Marte K. Kjollesdal ,
David Carslake ,
Magne Thoresen  and
Øyvind Næss
Fareeha Shaikh*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Marte K. Kjollesdal
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Health Services Research, Oslo, Norway
David Carslake
Affiliation:
MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Magne Thoresen
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Øyvind Næss
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Health Services Research, Oslo, Norway
*
Address for correspondence: Fareeha Shaikh, Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Email: fareeha.shaikh@studmed.uio.no
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Abstract

Low birthweight has been related to an increased risk of adult cardiovascular disease (CVD). Transgenerational studies have been used to investigate likely mechanisms underlying this inverse association. However, previous studies mostly examined the association of offspring birthweight with CVD risk factors among parents. In this study, we investigated the association between offspring birthweight and individual CVD risk factors, an index of CVD risk factors, and education in their parents, aunts/uncles, and aunts’/uncles’ partners. Birth data (Medical Birth Registry, Norway (MBRN) (1967–2012)) was linked to CVD risk factor data (the County Study, Age 40 Program, and Cohort Norway (CONOR)) for the parents, aunts/uncles, and their partners. For body mass index (BMI), resting heart rate (RHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and a risk factor index, the associations were examined by linear regression. For smoking and education, they were examined by logistic regression. Low birthweight was associated with an unfavorable risk factor profile in all familial relationships. For each kg increase in birthweight, the mean risk factor index decreased by −0.14 units (−0.15, −0.13) in mothers, −0.11 (−0.12, −0.10) in fathers, and −0.02 (−0.05, −0.00) to −0.07 (−0.09, −0.06) in aunts/uncles and their partners. The association in mothers was stronger than fathers, but it was also stronger in aunts/uncles than their partners. Profound associations between birthweight and CVD risk factors in extended family members were observed that go beyond the expected genetic similarities in pedigrees, suggesting that mechanisms like environmental factors, assortative mating, and genetic nurturing may explain these associations.

Keywords

Offspring birthweightCVD risk factorsaunts/uncles and partners
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , February 2022 , pp. 83 - 89
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

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