Background-Survivors of preterm birth constitute a new generation of young adults, but little is known about their long-term health. We investigated the association between gestational age (GA) and risk of high blood pressure (HBP) in young Swedish men and whether GA modified the risk of HBP; ie, whether HBP was related to being born small for gestational age (SGA

The authors examined the hypothesis that perinatal factors influence the onset of puberty. Children born as singletons in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1973-1977 were followed for height development before and during their school years (through 16 years of age). In all, 62 children born after preeclampsia, 129 born prematurely, 90 born small for gestational age, 175 born large for gestational age, 49 born short for gestational age, and 38 born tall for gestational age were compared with 688 "normal" children. Differences in age and height at puberty onset and age at menarche were analyzed using the t test and analyses of covariance. For boys, the mean age at puberty onset did not differ between normal boys and those with perinatal factors. Boys born small or short for gestational age were 4 cm shorter than normal boys, and those born large for gestational age were 3 cm taller than normal boys. Among girls, patterns for differences in height were similar. Girls born small for gestational age were 5 months younger than normal girls at the onset of puberty and menarche. Patterns of early childhood growth seemed to explain the relations between these perinatal factors and height and age at puberty. The authors conclude that body size at birth affects stature at puberty; in girls, smallness for gestational age is associated with earlier puberty. Associations between intrauterine exposures and disease risk may be confounded by, or mediated through, effects on adolescence.

No abstract

From July 1, 1977 to July 1, 1986, 3,503 incident cases of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus were registered in the Swedish childhood diabetes study. Using data from this register and from a case-referent study, including all incident Type 1 diabetic children in Sweden during one year and, for each patient, two referent children matched according to age, sex and county, we have studied the associations between Type 1 diabetes and familial Type 1 and Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes, thyroid, adrenal, allergic, rheumatic, heart and bowel disease. The mean annual incidence per 100,000 during the nine year period was 25.1 for boys and 23.5 for girls. In 8.5% of the patients, one parent had Type 1 diabetes, 73% of whom were fathers. Fifty-six of the patients (1.7%) had a parent with Type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of parental Type 1 diabetes tended to be higher in patients with younger age at onset; whereas, the opposite was found for patients with parental Type 2 diabetes. In the case-referent study, the age-adjusted odds ratio for Type 1 diabetes when a first and/or second degree relative had Type 1 diabetes was 5.5 (95% confidence limits 4.0-7.7), and in accordance with the findings of the case register, the odds ratio tended to be highest in patients with the youngest age at onset. Season at onset of the patients was not associated with parental Type 1 diabetes. The odds ratio for Type 1 diabetes was significantly increased 3.3 (95% confidence limits: 2.3-4.6) when Type 2 diabetes was reported in relatives (three generations).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)