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Association between birth weight and childhood cardiovascular disease risk factors in West Virginia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2019

Amna Umer Open the ORCID record for Amna Umer [Opens in a new window] ,
Candice Hamilton ,
Lesley Cottrell ,
Peter Giacobbi Jr ,
Kim Innes ,
George A. Kelley ,
William Neal ,
Collin John  and
Christa Lilly
Amna Umer*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
Candice Hamilton
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
Lesley Cottrell
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
Peter Giacobbi Jr
Affiliation:
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
Kim Innes
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
George A. Kelley
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
William Neal
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
Collin John
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
Christa Lilly
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Amna Umer, Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, phone: (304) 293-1211. Email: amumer@hsc.wvu.edu
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Abstract

The reported associations between birth weight and childhood cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors have been inconsistent. In this study, we investigated the relationship between birth weight and CVD risk factors at 11 years of age. This study used longitudinally linked data from three cross-sectional datasets (N = 22,136) in West Virginia; analysis was restricted to children born full-term (N = 19,583). The outcome variables included resting blood pressure [systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP)] and lipid profile [total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, non-HDL, and triglycerides (TG)]. Multiple regression analyses were performed, adjusting for child’s body mass index (BMI), sociodemographics, and lifestyle characteristics. Unadjusted analyses showed a statistically significant association between birth weight and SBP, DBP, HDL, and TG. When adjusted for the child’s BMI, the association between birth weight and HDL [b = 0.14 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.18) mg/dl per 1000 g increase] and between birth weight and TG [b = –0.007 (–0.008, –0.005) mg/dl per 1000 g increase] remained statistically significant. In the fully adjusted model, low birth weight was associated with higher LDL, non-HDL, and TGs, and lower HDL levels. The child’s current BMI at 11 years of age partially (for HDL, non-HDL, and TG) and fully mediated (for SBP and DBP) the relationship between birth weight and select CVD risk factors. While effects were modest, these risk factors may persist and amplify with age, leading to potentially unfavorable consequences in later adulthood.

Keywords

Birth weightcardiovascular diseasechildrenblood pressurelipids

Information

Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , February 2020 , pp. 86 - 95
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2019 

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