Cohort profile: the Ewha Birth and Growth Study

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Life-course health research
• Pediatric health

Background:

• The Ewha Birth and Growth Study, established in 2001, is a prospective birth cohort study.
• It investigates early life risk factors for chronic diseases and child development.
• The study focuses on participants from Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify early life risk factors influencing child growth and health.
• To provide evidence for preventing chronic diseases later in life.
• To examine associations between prenatal/birth characteristics and later health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort design with 891 mothers and 940 offspring recruited between 2001-2006.
• Follow-up examinations at ages 3, 5, 7, and annually thereafter, with planned early adulthood assessments.
• Data collection via questionnaires and measurements, including genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors.

Main Results:

• Published findings on childhood health outcomes linked to prenatal/birth factors, metabolism, endocrine disruptors, and diet.
• Recent research explores adolescent health topics.
• Longitudinal data analysis reveals patterns from infancy through adolescence.

Conclusions:

• Early life factors significantly impact long-term health trajectories.
• The study provides a foundation for developing targeted interventions for chronic disease prevention.
• Continued follow-up into early adulthood will offer further insights into life-course health.