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Fetal growth and urinary albumin excretion among middle-aged Danes
S P Johnsen1, H T Sørensen, A M Thulstrup
1Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Aarhus, Denmark. spj@soci.au.dk
Insights
This study found no link between fetal growth markers and adult urinary albumin excretion in middle-aged individuals. Further research with larger microalbuminuria cohorts is needed to explore fetal growth
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology
- Renal Function Studies
- Fetal Development Research
Background:
- Impaired fetal growth is associated with cardiovascular disease and risk factors.
- Urinary albumin excretion predicts vascular disease in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.
- Limited research exists on fetal growth's impact on urinary albumin excretion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between fetal growth markers and adult urinary albumin excretion.
- To determine if birth weight, length, or Ponderal Index correlate with albumin-creatinine ratio in middle age.
Main Methods:
- Population-based follow-up study of 545 middle-aged Danish men and women.
- Utilized birth records for fetal growth markers: birth weight, birth length, and Ponderal Index.
- Measured urinary albumin-creatinine ratio as the outcome variable.
Main Results:
- No significant associations were found between any fetal growth markers (birth weight, length, Ponderal Index) and adult albumin-creatinine ratio.
- Prevalence of microalbuminuria (albumin-creatinine ratio > 2.5/3.5 mg/mmol) was 1.1% in men and 3.6% in women.
- Multivariate models did not reveal any relationship between fetal growth and urinary albumin excretion.
Conclusions:
- The study does not support a link between fetal growth and adult albumin-creatinine ratio.
- Larger studies are necessary to clarify the relationship between fetal growth and subsequent renal function.
- Further investigation is needed in cohorts with higher numbers of microalbuminuric individuals.
Objective:
Impaired fetal growth has been linked with cardiovascular disease and different cardiovascular risk factors. Few studies have examined the association between fetal growth and urinary albumin excretion, an important predictor of vascular disease in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects.
Material And Methods:
We examined the association between markers of fetal growth, ie, birth weight, birth length and Ponderal Index, from birth records and urinary albumin excretion in 545 middle-aged men and women who had taken part in a population-based follow-up study in the municipality of Ebeltoft, Denmark. The outcome was the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio.
Results:
Three men (1.1%) and 10 women (3.6%) had a albumin-creatinine ratio above 2.5/3.5 mg/mmol, which is considered abnormal and diagnostic of microalbuminuria. The strength of the associations between birth weight, birth length, Ponderal Index and albumin-creatinine ratio were fitted in separate multivariate models, but no associations were found in any model.
Conclusions:
Our study did not support the hypothesis of an association between fetal growth and adult albumin-creatinine ratio. Studies with larger numbers of microalbuminuric subjects are required in order to further clarify the relationship between fetal growth and later renal function.