Study | Aim | Methods | Outcome measure | Results | Notes | Quality assessment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annesi-Maesano et al., 2001 [38] | To explore how in utero and perinatal factors and health outcomes affect the development and severity of asthma in childhood | Prospective cohort study. 4065 children and 2583 mothers. Mean age among cohort mothers was 31.0 ± 3.3 years. | Childhood asthma | Low birth weight (< 2.5 kg) was associated with child asthma (OR = 1.57 [95% CI: 1.10- 2.25]) | Good range of covariates | Strong |
Davies et al. 2004 [45] | Association between birth weight and adult total cholesterol concentration (TC) | Cross-sectional 1994-1996 18,286 men and 7557 women. British Telecom employees The mean age is 38.9 for men and 36 for women | Adult cholesterol | After adjustment, in men a − 0.09 mmol/L reduction in TC was observed per 1 kg increase in birth weight (95% CI, − 0.11 to − 0.06 mmol/L; P < 0.001); in women, a − 0.006 mmol/L reduction in TC was observed per 1 kg increase in birth weight (95% CI, − 0.04 to 0.03; P = 0.8). | Birth weight and TC association may be dependent on sex. Adjusted for a good amount of covariates | Moderate |
Gale and Martyn 2004 [39] | Association between birth weight and risk of psychological distress and depression | Prospective cohort study 5187 participants included for the 16-year follow-up; 8292 for the 26-year follow-up | Adult depression | Low birth weight < =2.5 kg was associated with depression in women at age 26 (OR = 1.3 [95% CI:0.9-1.8]) and men at age 26 years (OR = 1.6 [95% CI:1.1-2.3]). | Adjusted for a good amount of covariates | Strong |
Law et al. 1993 [40] | Association between low birth weight and high blood pressure | Longitudinal study 1895 children (0-10Â years) and 1231 men and women aged 59-71Â years. | Childhood and adult blood pressure | Every kg of birth weight increase was associated with 2.8Â mmHg (95% CI: 1.4-4.1) decrease in blood pressure at the age of 4, 4.0Â mmHg (95% CI: 1.5-6.5) decrease at the age of 64, and 5.2Â mmHg (95% CI: 1.8-8.6) decrease for the age of 64 to 71 | Blood pressure as a proxy of hypertension | Strong |
Moore 2005 [46] | To identify the incidence and characteristics of preventable childhood deaths. | Retrospective survey 34 childhood preventable deaths. City of Wolverhampton, UK Mother’s age < 20 years (33%) | Childhood death | Preventable deaths were associated with low (2933 g) birth weight (p < 0.001). |  | Weak |
Orfei et al. 2008 [58] | Association between adult lung function and birth weight, postnatal growth and early air-pollution exposure | Data drawn from 2 UK cohort studies (n = 3262 and 9377). Lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC)). The 1946 cohort was assessed for lung function at age 43 years; the 1958 cohort was assessed at age 44-45 years. | Lung function | When the two cohorts were pooled and mutually adjusted, 1 SD increase in birth weight was associated with 30.4 ml increase in FEV1 (95% CI: 16.1-44.8) and 26.9 ml increase in FVC (95% CI: 8.0-46.0). | Adjusted for a good amount of covariates. | Strong |
Pearce et al. 2012 [41] | Direct and indirect associations between foetal, infancy and adult risk factors and fibrinogen levels | Prospective study 394 singleton study members Newcastle upon Tyne, UK | Adult fibrinogen level (a risk factor for CVD) | No significant association was found between standardised birth weight and adult plasma fibrinogen levels (Beta-coefficient = − 0.03, 95% CI: − 0.01-0.001, p = 0.34, unadjusted) |  | Moderate |
Riordan et al. 2006 [42] | The association between perinatal circumstances and subsequent young adult suicide | Birth cohort study 1,061,830 participants birth between 1 Jan 1969 - 31 Dec 1986 | Adult suicide | Individuals of low birth weight (< 2500 g), when compared with the reference group (3250–3749 g) were at higher risk of suicide (HR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.05–1.72) and at higher risk of death from other causes (HR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.24–1.61). |  | Strong |
Robertson and Harrild 2010 [43] | Association between maternal and neonatal risk factors and type 1 diabetes in children under 15 years old | 361 case children and 1083 controls 1972-2005 Scottish Study | Childhood diabetes | The risk of development childhood type 1 diabetes was not associated with birth weight (OR 0.66 CI95% 0.34 to 1.28; p = 0.22 adjusted). |  | Moderate |
Smith et al. 2007 [44] | The relation between complications in a first livebirth (such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, or intrauterine growth restriction) and the risk of unexplained stillbirth. | retrospective cohort study 133,163 women having a second birth Scotland | Subsequent pregnancy outcomes | Small for gestational age birth weight (smallest 10% for sex and gestation) shows an increase in the risk of stillbirth in the second pregnancy (HR 2.32 CI 95% 1.82, 2.96 p < 0.001) | Risk of explained and unexplained stillbirth in the second pregnancy | Strong |