Birth weight changes in a major city under rapid socioeconomic transition in China

Abstract

Estimates of trends in birth weight may be useful in evaluating population health. We aimed to determine whether temporal changes in birth weight have occurred amongst 2.3 million neonates born in Guangzhou, China, during 2001–2015 and investigate the socioeconomic determinants of any changes. Trends in mean birth weight and annualized changes with the associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the incidence of small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA), defined as birth weight <10th or >90th centile respectively for gestational age and sex, were examined using linear and Poisson regression models. We found that mean birth weight declined by 1.07 grams/year from 2001 to 2015. After adjustment for gestational length, the decline in birth weight was attenuated (0.37 grams/year). The incidence of both SGA and LGA significantly decreased during the study period (annual decrease of 1.6% [95% CI, 1.5% to 1.7%] for SGA, 1.6% [95% CI, 1.5% to 1.8%] for LGA). We found a narrowing of disparities in SGA and LGA incidence across different maternal educational levels and residence location. Our results demonstrate that there has been an increase in the proportion of neonates born in the healthy birth weight range in Guangzhou.

Assessing cardiovascular remodelling in fetuses and infants conceived by assisted reproductive technologies: a prospective observational cohort study protocol

“…Likewise, delivery before 37 weeks of gestation and birth weight below the 10th or above the 90th percentile are considered additional exclusion criteria, in order to avoid the underlying interference of prematurity and small/large-for-gestational age. Small/large-for-gestational age is defined as birth weight below the 10th or above the 90th centile according to local reference curves 22. Moreover, smoking during pregnancy will be additional excluding criteria.…”

Changing trends of birth weight with maternal age: a cross-sectional study in Xi'an city of Northwestern China

“…Birth weight (BW) is the most important index re ecting intrauterine growth and development of newborns, and is also a vital index to evaluate the health status of the newborns [1]. Abnormal BW, including low birth weight (LBW, BW<2500g) and macrosomia (BW≥4000g), signi cantly increases the risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity and, in recent years, has been shown to be a marker of age-related disease risk [2,3]. As the most common adverse birth outcome, the incidence of abnormal BW is generally high in the world.…”

Changing trends of birth weight with maternal age: a cross-sectional study in Xi'an city of Northwestern China

“…Abnormal BW, including low birth weight (LBW, BW < 2500 g) and macrosomia (BW ≥ 4000 g), signi cantly increases the risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity [2]. It is considered a marker of age-related disease and longevity risk, as LBW has been associated with increased cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in adulthood, and macrosomia infants has been highly predisposed to metabolic syndrome in adulthood [3,4]. As the most common adverse birth outcome, the incidence of abnormal BW is generally high in the world.…”