Grandparental morbidity and mortality patterns are associated with infant birth weight in the Lifeways cross-generation cohort study 2001-2010

作者：Shrivastava A; Murrin C; O' Brien J; Viljoen K; Heavey P; Grant T; Kelleher C C^*

来源：Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 2012, 3(6): 458-468.

DOI：10.1017/S2040174412000451

• birth weight
• cardiovascular
• intergenerational
• mortality
• sex specific

The association of infants%26apos; birth weight with maternal cardiovascular morbidity (CVD) and mortality substantiates the foetal origins hypothesis. Few studies to date have investigated grandparent-infant risk association. We prospectively examined this relationship in the Lifeways three-generation familial cohort, contrasting lineage and gender differences to understand mechanisms of intergenerational risk transmission. In 2001, a cohort of 1082 families was established at antenatal stage. A total of 539 families (n=539 infants) had both a participating grandparent (n=1054) and information on infants%26apos; gestational age. At baseline, grandparents provided their diagnosed CVD status and 79% also underwent a cardiovascular risk factors assessment. In 2005, general practitioners provided an update for 61% grandparents. In 2010, a search of civil register confirmed 77 grandparental deaths in 539 families. Grandchildren%26apos;s birth weight and grandparental cardiovascular risk factors associations were examined with linear regressions. Grandparental CVD associations were analysed using ANCOVA. Cox proportional hazard ratios (HR) were calculated for all-cause mortality associations. Models were adjusted for infants%26apos;, mothers%26apos; and grandparents%26apos; demographic, anthropometric and socio-behavioural characteristics, as appropriate. The paternal grandfathers%26apos; (PGF) systolic blood pressure (mmHg) [beta (95% CI) = 6.6 (0.8-12.5); P=0.03] and paternal grandmothers%26apos; serum triglycerides (mmol/l) [beta (95% CI)=78.8 (7.0-150.7); P=0.03] were linearly predictive of infants%26apos; birth weight, which was not observed for maternal grand-parents. Mean birth weight for infants of maternal grandmothers with diabetes {-272.7 [(-499.7) - (-45.6)] g; P=0.02} or stroke {-292.1 [(-544.5) - (-39.6)] g; P=0.02} was lower than those without diabetes or stroke, a pattern not observed for paternal grandparents. Whereas PGFs%26apos; mortality was significantly associated with infants%26apos; high birth weight (%26gt;= 4000 g) [HR (95% CI) = 4.9 (1.2-19.9); P=0.03], maternal grandparents%26apos; mortality showed a converse pattern with infants%26apos; low birth weight (%26lt; 2500 g) [HR (95% CI)=1.7 (0.4-8.2); P=0.7], although not statistically significant. These findings suggest that intergenerational transmission of risk differs in maternal and paternal lines.

• 出版日期2012-12