Health in early adulthood: the contribution of the 1978/79 Ribeirão Preto birth cohort

Abstract

The increase in non-communicable chronic diseases of adults is due to demographic changes and changes in the risk factors related to physical activity, smoking habits and nutrition. We describe the methodology for the evaluation of persons at 23/25 years of age of a cohort of individuals born in Ribeirão Preto in 1978/79. We present their socioeconomic characteristics and the profile of some risk factors for chronic diseases. A total of 2063 participants were evaluated by means of blood collection, standardized questionnaires, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, and methacholine bronchoprovocation tests. The sexes were compared by the chi-square test, with α = 0.05. Obesity was similar among men and women (12.8 and 11.1%); overweight was almost double in men (30.3 vs 17.7%). Weight deficit was higher among women than among men (8.6 and 2.6%). Women were more sedentary and consumed less alcohol and tobacco. Dietary fat consumption was similar between sexes, with 63% consuming large amounts (30 to 39.9 g/day). Metabolic syndrome was twice more frequent among men than women (10.7 vs 4.8%), hypertension was six times more frequent (40.9 vs 6.4%); altered triglyceride (16.1 vs 9.8%) and LDL proportions (5.4 vs 2.7%) were also higher in men, while women had a higher percentage of low HDL (44.7 vs 39.5%). Asthma and bronchial hyper-responsiveness were 1.7 and 1.5 times more frequent, respectively, among women. The high prevalence of some risk factors for chronic diseases among young adults supports the need for investments in their prevention.

Accuracy of spirometry for detection of asthma: a cross-sectional study

“…7 The recruitment of the sample was based on the charts of the liveborns of the original cohort, which contained the name and address of the mother and the data of birth of the child.…”

“…A period of 24 months was reserved for subject identification and for data collection, with a capacity of 4-7 daily evaluations by the service. 7 The inclusion criteria were that the subjects needed to belong to this cohort and to be able to perform all the procedures necessary. Previous articles have reported on the history of this cohort, sample size calculations, subject selection and recruitment.…”

“…Previous articles have reported on the history of this cohort, sample size calculations, subject selection and recruitment. 7 This sample was assessed in the fourth phase of following up this cohort. 7 The aim of this fourth phase was to ascertain the importance of events that occurred between the prenatal period and early adulthood and to analyze the impact of these events on the growth and development of chronic non-transmissible adult diseases, such as asthma.…”

“…7 This sample was assessed in the fourth phase of following up this cohort. 7 The aim of this fourth phase was to ascertain the importance of events that occurred between the prenatal period and early adulthood and to analyze the impact of these events on the growth and development of chronic non-transmissible adult diseases, such as asthma. At this phase, anthropometric measurements were taken, blood samples were collected and spirometry, skin allergy tests and the bronchial challenge test with methacholine were performed.…”

Birth weight, current body mass index, and insulin sensitivity and secretion in young adults in two Latin American populations

“…Losses (705) occurred because of refusal to participate, imprisonment, death after 20 years of age, and failure to attend for interview. Losses were replaced using the same sampling frame [19,20]. After exclusion of cases with missing values, 1984 subjects were included in the analysis.…”