Preterm birth, birthweight, and subsequent risk for depression

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Psychiatry
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Birthweight and preterm birth are indicators of prenatal environmental exposures.
• Previous research on the association between birth status and adult depression is limited.
• The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) provides a large dataset for investigating these links.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between birthweight categories and preterm birth status with adult depression risk.
• To assess the association between early life factors and mental health outcomes in postmenopausal women.
• To identify potential early life predictors of depression in adulthood.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 86,925 postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).
• Collected self-reported birthweight (categories) and preterm birth status (full-term or premature).
• Assessed depression using the Burnham screen, self-reported diagnosis, and antidepressant medication use; analyzed with linear and logistic regression models.

Main Results:

• Individuals born with low (<6 lbs) or high (≥10 lbs) birthweights had significantly higher Burnham depression scores.
• Low birthweight (<6 lbs) was associated with a higher likelihood of depression (adjOR 1.21).
• Preterm birth was also linked to an increased risk of depression (adjOR 1.18), with this association persisting even in low birthweight individuals.

Conclusions:

• Early life factors, including birthweight and preterm birth, are associated with increased depression risk in adulthood.
• These findings highlight the importance of early life exposures in shaping long-term health trajectories.
• Individuals with non-optimal birth status may benefit from targeted mental health evaluations and ongoing follow-up.