[Validity of information on birth weight for studies based on fetal programming]

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Birth weight is a critical metric in fetal programming research.
• Retrospective data collection for birth weight is common, but data accessibility can be an issue.
• The Brazilian Information System on Live Births (SINASC) contains birth weight data, but it's not always available.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an algorithm for selecting the most reliable birth weight data source when SINASC information is missing.
• To assess the reliability of different birth weight data sources in a Brazilian population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving schoolchildren aged 6-14 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2010.
• Birth weight data was collected via self-completed questionnaire, interview, Family Physician Program medical records, and the SINASC database.
• Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and mean birth weight differences were calculated to compare data sources.

Main Results:

• High reliability was observed across all assessed data sources, with ICCs ranging from 0.90 to 0.99.
• Alternative sources (Family Physician Program, interview, questionnaire) generally reported higher mean birth weights than SINASC, with differences up to 100g.
• Birth weight data retrieved from age 6-14 is a reliable option when primary sources are unavailable.

Conclusions:

• The Family Physician Program, followed by interviews and questionnaires, are recommended for supplementing birth weight data when SINASC is unavailable.
• Establishing a reliable data source hierarchy is essential for accurate fetal programming studies.
• This algorithm enhances the completeness and reliability of birth weight data in epidemiological research.