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Relationship between birth size and coronary heart disease in China

Zhongjie Fan1, Zhen-Xin Zhang, Yinxiong Li

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Annals of Medicine
|September 11, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Fetal growth conditions impact adult coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in Chinese populations. Lower birth size, indicating fetal growth restriction, is linked to increased CHD occurrence later in life.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Epidemiology
  • Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)

Background:

  • Clinical studies suggest a link between fetal growth and adult coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • No prior studies have investigated this association within a Chinese population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between neonatal birth characteristics and the incidence of CHD in a Chinese cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 2,033 individuals born between 1921 and 1954 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
  • Collected neonatal data included birth-weight, placental weight, length, and head circumference.
  • Follow-up occurred from May 2002 to April 2004 to ascertain CHD occurrence.

Main Results:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) was diagnosed in 135 patients.
  • Higher birth-weight, head circumference, and placental weight were inversely associated with CHD risk (P < 0.05).
  • The ratio of birth-weight to birth length emerged as an independent predictor of CHD, alongside obesity and age.

Conclusions:

  • Low birth size or disproportion, indicative of fetal growth retardation, is associated with adult CHD in China.
  • This highlights the influence of both prenatal and postnatal environmental factors on CHD development.
Abstract

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