The Impact of Birthweight on Adult Minor Illness: A Study on a Sub-Clinical Population

Abstract

Official classification for low birth weight is 2500 gram or below. Whilst there is no consensus of what constitutes normal birth weight, it has been suggested that the optimal birthweight for long term health is 3500-4500 gram; hence those with birth weight between 2500 and 3490 gram could be deemed to be a sub clinical population. The objective was to investigate the relationship between disease and birthweight and to compare vulnerability of those with suboptimal and optimal birthweight in adulthood. This is a cohort study; with cross sectional retrospective design involving 258 adults aged 18-62 who knew their birth weight. Participants completed a minor illness checklist, using a median split, participants were categorised as high or low minor illness group. Results indicate a negative correlation between birthweight and minor illness score (r =-.155, p = .013). Those born with sub optimal birthweight are more likely to report minor illness symptoms above the media score of 16 (OR 1.70 CI 95% 1.04-2.79).It is concluded that there is a relationship between birthweight and level of minor illness in adulthood. Those born with birthweight 2500-3490 gram appear to be more vulnerable to minor illness. Thus, working with Foetal Origins theory, it may be possible that this group experienced a degree of foetal compensation, the consequence being that the immune system is compromised. Application of a three dimensional equilibrium model is suggested in designing interventions that improve foetal environment and subsequent health chances.

Incidence and Characteristics of Insufficient Birth Weight Newborns from a Cohort of Neonates in a Public Regional Hospital of a Metropolitan Area

“…In the municipality of Santo André incidence was slightly higher at 26.0% 27 . These values are higher than those found in a study conducted on a sample of 1533 children in Rio Claro, São Paulo, in 1991, which reported an incidence of IB at 18.6% 28 .…”

Factors Related to Motor Developmental Delay of Newborns

“…Some clinical conditions in the neonatal period can result in morbidity, or more frequent hospitalisations in childhood, which can generate significant economic and social impact through worker absenteeism in adulthood and/or the financial burden placed on the public health system,which deserves careful attention to investigation on global public health 29,30 . Interventions that contribute to improving the health of the foetus have a positive impact on birth outcomes, on health in the neonatal period and, even later, in adulthood.…”

Perinatal Health and Translational Medicine

“…These changes, which reflect adaptations to support fetal development can permanently "program" the body's structure and function and thus be determinants for disease during adulthood; thus defining the fetal programming, as proposed by Barker 1,2,9 . Children with low birth weight, regardless of their social background, have an increased risk of presenting cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes compared to their peers of higher weight 10,11 . Although factors related to adult weight and life-style may be additional confounding factors, the association of low birth weight with chronic diseases seems to persist after exclusion of such factors.…”

“…Although factors related to adult weight and life-style may be additional confounding factors, the association of low birth weight with chronic diseases seems to persist after exclusion of such factors. There is a direct relationship between low birth weight and chronic disease, even after adjusting for relevant confounding variables, including alcohol consumption, levels of physical exercise and socioeconomic status 10,11 . Mortality in the perinatal period reflects generally the factors related to pregnancy and child birth, so, a significant number of deaths from preventable causes on the govern health services can be avoided.…”