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Published on: July 3, 2013

Low birth weight is associated with chronic kidney disease only in men

S Li1, S-C Chen, M Shlipak

  • 1Chronic Disease Research Group, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Kidney International
|December 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight is linked to chronic kidney disease in men, but not women. Further research is needed to understand and prevent this association for better public health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Low birth weight is a potential risk factor for adult health issues.
  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects a significant portion of the adult population.
  • Early identification of CKD risk factors is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between low birth weight and chronic kidney disease.
  • To determine if this association differs between men and women.
  • To explore potential public health implications of low birth weight on kidney health.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Early Evaluation Program.
  • Included 12,364 adult participants (aged 18+) with diabetes, hypertension, or family history of these conditions.
  • Defined low birth weight (<2500 g) and CKD (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m² or ACR ≥30 mg/g).

Main Results:

  • 15% of participants reported low birth weight.
  • A significant association between low birth weight and CKD was observed in men after adjustments.
  • No significant association was found between low birth weight and CKD in women.
  • No significant interaction between birth weight and race was identified for either gender.

Conclusions:

  • Low birth weight is a significant risk factor for chronic kidney disease in men.
  • The association between low birth weight and CKD requires further investigation into its underlying mechanisms.
  • Understanding and addressing this link may lead to new prevention strategies for kidney disease.

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