KUNO-Kids birth cohort study: rationale, design, and cohort description

Abstract

BackgroundBirth cohort studies can contribute substantially to the understanding of health and disease — in childhood and over the life course. The KUNO-Kids birth cohort study was established to investigate various aspects of child health, using novel omics technologies in a systems medicine approach.ResultsAfter 3 years of recruitment, 2515 infants and their families have joined the study. Parents with higher education are overrepresented as in many other birth cohorts and are more likely to complete follow-up assessments via self-report questionnaires. The vast majority of participants consented to clinical examinations of their child and to the non-invasive collection of diverse biosamples, which were processed specifically for their integrated use in omics technology covering genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and microbiome analyses of the skin, oral cavity, and stool.ConclusionsThe data and diverse biomaterial collected in the KUNO-Kids birth cohort study will provide extensive opportunities for investigating child health and its determinants in a holistic approach. The combination of a broad range of research questions in one study will allow for a cost-effective use of biomaterial and omics results and for a comprehensive analysis of biological and social determinants of health and disease. Aiming for low attrition and ensuring participants’ long-term commitment will be crucial to fully exploit the potential of the study.

Information on, knowledge and utilisation of support services during pregnancy and after childbirth: cross-sectional analyses of predictors using data from the KUNO-Kids health study

“…Rationale and design of the study have already been described elsewhere. 6 Briefly, adult mothers giving birth in the St Hedwig Clinic (the university maternity and children’s hospital in the study region) are asked to participate in the study. Basic German language proficiency is considered necessary for understanding the study procedures.…”

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families in Germany

“…The KUNO-Kids health study is an ongoing, multi-purpose birth cohort which was initiated in 2015 and has 3249 participants at this timepoint. 7 The study is located in Eastern Bavaria and covers the city of Regensburg (170.000 inhabitants) and the adjacent, mostly rural regions. All mothers giving birth at the clinic St. Hedwig are asked to provide written informed consent for participation in the study.…”

Neonatale Cholestase

“…Für Deutschland fehlen diesbezüglich bisher verlässliche Daten. In einer großen Neugeborenen-Kohorte (KUNO-Kids-Kohorte) klären wir aktuell die diesbezügliche Inzidenz ebenso, wie die eines Icterus prolongatus [1]. Da nur durch eine frühe Diagnose der kausalen Störung einer NC konsekutive Schäden zu vermeiden und der bestmögliche Verlauf zu erzielen ist, stellt die NC einen "Notfall" dar.…”

“…Spätestens bei der U3-Vorsorgeuntersuchung sollte dann vom Kinder-und Jugendarzt (w/m) anhand der Stuhlfarbkarte überprüft werden, ob ein persistierend entfärbter Stuhl vorliegt. Im Rahmen der KUNO-Kids-Studie haben wir dieses Verfahren bereits bei mehreren Tausend Neugeborenen eingesetzt und überprüfen derzeit die Effektivität dieses Screening-Konzeptes [1]. Darüber hinaus erproben wir aktuell eine App-Version der Stuhlfarbkarte im Vergleich mit der herkömmlichen "Hardcopy" [1].…”

“…singuläre Ursache ist die Gallengangatresie (GGA). Die NC stellt einen "Notfall" dar, da nur durch eine frühe Diagnose die Vermeidung oder Verminderung konsekutiver Schäden durch (1) generell die NC (v. a. schwerwiegende Blutungen) sowie (2) speziell die kausale Störung (z. B. bei GGA) möglich ist.…”