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Longitudinal changes in maternal and neonatal anthropometrics: a case study of the Helsinki Birth Cohort, 1934–1944

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2015

E. Moltchanova  and
J. G. Eriksson
E. Moltchanova*
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
J. G. Eriksson
Affiliation:
Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Folkhälsan Research Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Unit of General Practice, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
*
*Address for correspondence: E. Moltchanova, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurh, New Zealand. (Email [email protected])
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Abstract

Changes in anthropometrics often reflect changes in living conditions, and one’s characteristics at birth may be associated with future health. The aim of this study was to investigate the secular trends in maternal and neonatal anthropometrics in the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. The study participants, thus, comprised all 13,345 live births recorded in Helsinki, Finland, between 1934 and 1944. Adult characteristics of the clinical subsample comprised of 2003 individuals, alive during 2003, were also analyzed. Linear Regression analysis with seasonal terms was applied to see whether clinically and statistically significant trends can be found in maternal age, height and body mass index (BMI) at pregnancy; gestational age, birth weight, ponderal index and sex ratio; and adult height, BMI and fat percentage. Statistically significant trends were found in maternal age and maternal BMI with abrupt changes between 1941 and 1944. Gestational age increased by an average of 0.11% per year (P<0.0001), and the proportion of premature births dropped from 7.9% in 1934 to 4.5% in 1944 (P<0.0001). In the clinical sample, a statistically significant, although small, average annual increase of 0.1% in adult heights was detected (P=0.0012 for men and P=0.0035 for women). In conclusion, although no significant changes were found in either neonatal or adult anthropometrics of babies born in Helsinki between 1934 and 1944, there were abrupt changes in the characteristics of their mothers.

Keywords

longitudinal trendsmaternal anthropometricsmaternal obesityneonatal anthropometrics
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , August 2015 , pp. 285 - 290
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2015 

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