Perinatal factors and their association with cardiometabolic profile in schoolchildren

Developmental origins of health and disease suggest a link between the periconceptual, fetal, and early infant phases of life and the persistent development of metabolic disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the associations between perinatal variables and cardiometabolic profiles in school-aged children and adolescents.

Retrospective study that used cross-sectional data from a database of a larger study named "Schoolchildren's health". The study was carried out using a sample comprising children and adolescents, ranging from 6 to 17 years old from both genders. All participants were enrolled in private and public schools in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. A self-administered questionnaire was applied to children and parents, then anthropometric measurements of body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), and waist circumference (WC) were obtained, followed by a cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) test. ​The association of perinatal variables with BMI, WC, BF%, and CRF was tested by multiple linear regression, using the "Enter" input method, being the unstandardized coefficient (B) and 95% confidence intervals of the associations were estimated. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, version 23.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Statistical significance was established as p < 0.05.

A total of 1,431 children and adolescents were evaluated, with 803 (56.1%) of them being females and white subjects (83%) with mean age of 11.48 ± 2.75 years. Associations between perinatal factors and anthropometric measurements were found birth weight (BW) and BMI (B:1.13; 95%CI:0.74;1.51), BW and WC (B:2.20; 95%CI:1.37;3.04), BW and BF% (B:1.84; 95%CI:0.83;2.84). Gestational age also had associations with BMI (B:1.00; 95%CI:0.25;1.74); WC (B:1.88; 95%CI:0.25;3.50) and CRF (B:-168.91; 95%CI:-299.53;-38.29). Complications during pregnancy and BMI (B:0.48; 95%CI:0.02;0.93) and cesarean birth and BMI (B:0.43; 95%CI:0.01;0.86).

Associations exist between perinatal factors and future cardiometabolic profiles. It is imperative to establish and reinforce efforts geared towards enhancing the health literacy of both adolescent boys and girls, along with pregnant women.