Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (Propensity Score) using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index
Published on: January 8, 2020
Population-based study on association between birth weight and risk of asthma: a propensity score approach
Hyeon J Yang1, Rui Qin, Slavica Katusic
1Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester,MN 55905, USA.
Insights
Birth weight is not linked to asthma risk in early childhood. Propensity score matching in this study found no significant difference in asthma development between low and normal birth weight groups.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric epidemiology
- Respiratory health
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Previous asthma and birth weight studies suffered from selection bias and covariate imbalance.
- Understanding birth weight's role in asthma risk is crucial for public health.
- Asthma remains a significant public health concern globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between birth weight and asthma risk.
- To apply a propensity score approach to mitigate bias in observational studies.
- To provide a more accurate assessment of birth weight's impact on asthma development.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of children born 1976-1979 in Rochester, Minnesota.
- Propensity scores for birth weight were calculated using 16 covariates.
- Propensity score matching was used to compare low (<2,500g) and normal birth weight groups.
Main Results:
- Initial analysis showed no significant difference in asthma incidence between birth weight groups (P=.42).
- Propensity score matching successfully reduced covariate imbalance between groups.
- After matching, children with low birth weight had a similar asthma risk to normal birth weight peers (8.3% vs 7.3%, P=.75).
Conclusions:
- Birth weight is not associated with asthma risk during the first six years of life.
- Propensity score methodology offers a valuable tool for asthma epidemiology research.
- This study highlights the importance of robust statistical methods in observational research.
Background:
Previous studies that assessed the role of birth weight in the risk of asthma have been limited because of selection bias and covariate imbalance.
Objective:
To assess the association between birth weight and risk of asthma by applying a propensity score approach.
Methods:
The study was designed as a retrospective cohort study based on a birth cohort of children born between January 1, 1976, and December 31, 1979, in Rochester, Minnesota. The propensity scores for birth weight were formulated using 16 covariates. We matched the propensity scores for children having low birth weight (<2,500 g) within a caliper of 0.2 SD of logit function of propensity scores. We calculated the cumulative incidence of asthma between low and normal birth weight groups using the Kaplan-Meier curve.
Results:
There were 3933 eligible children born between January 1, 1976, and December 31, 1979. Before matching, 13 of the 193 children (6.7%) born weighing 2,500 g developed asthma, whereas 201 of the 3,740 children (5.4%) born weighing 2,500 g and above developed asthma (P=.42). There were significant covariate imbalances between comparison groups. However, after propensity score matching, covariate imbalance was significantly reduced, and children born weighing less than 2,500 g had a similar risk to matched children born with normal birth weight (8.3% vs 7.3%, P=.75).
Conclusion:
Birth weight is not associated with risk of asthma during the first 6 years of life. The propensity score may be a useful method for observational studies concerning asthma epidemiology.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:28Asthma I: Introduction
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...