Association between Birth Characteristics and Cardiovascular Autonomic Function at Mid-Life

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Autonomic Nervous System Function
• Birth Cohort Studies

Background:

• Low birth weight is a known risk factor for adult cardiovascular diseases.
• Abnormal cardiac autonomic function is a hallmark of cardiovascular disease.
• This study investigates the link between birth weight and cardiac autonomic function in middle age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that low birth weight is associated with poorer cardiac autonomic function in middle-aged individuals.
• To examine the relationship between birth weight and measures of vagally-mediated heart rate variability (rMSSD) and spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS).

Main Methods:

• The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, at age 46, underwent health and lifestyle assessments.
• Cardiac autonomic function was measured using rMSSD and BRS in seated and standing positions.
• Analyses adjusted for maternal and adult confounding factors.

Main Results:

• In men, higher birth weight correlated negatively with seated and standing rMSSD and standing BRS.
• In women, higher birth weight positively correlated with seated BRS, but not other autonomic measures.
• These associations remained significant after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions:

• Higher birth weight in men is independently associated with poorer cardiac autonomic function at mid-life.
• No similar association was found in women.
• Findings suggest higher birth weight in males may contribute to less favorable autonomic regulation and elevated cardiovascular risk.