Abstract
Background Barker's fetal programming hypothesis suggests that disproportionate size at birth may have a lifelong impact on one's health. However, the literature on birth length is considerably more sparse compared with birthweight. We, therefore, examined the relationship between birth length and hospitalisation early in life among Japanese children. Methods We used the nationwide Longitudinal Survey of Babies in 21st Century and restricted the study subjects to full-term singleton babies (n = 44 057). We estimated the effects of birth length and birthweight on the risk of hospitalisation using log linear regression models. We controlled for a set of neonatal and maternal factors. Results Birth length was associated with the chance of hospitalisation due to all causes between 6 and 18 months of age. In addition, the association was stronger than that with birthweight. Adjusted risk ratios showed that the relationship between birth length and hospitalisation was U-shaped: 1.16 [95% confidence intervals, 1.08, 1.25] at 30-48 cm, 1 [Reference] at 49 cm, 1.13 [1.04, 1.22] at 50 cm, and 1.11 [1.02, 1.20] at 51-60 cm. Short babies with low or high weight, as well as long babies with low weight, seem to be at increased risk of hospitalisation. Conclusions We found a U-shaped relationship between birth length and risk of hospitalisation due to all causes during the period from 6 to 18 months.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 361-370 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2013 |
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Keywords
- birth length
- birth weight
- epidemiology
- fetal growth
- hospitalization
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
Association of birth length and risk of hospitalisation among full-term babies in Japan. / Kato, Tsuguhiko; Yorifuji, Takashi; Inoue, Sachiko; Doi, Hiroyuki; Kawachi, Ichiro.
In: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Vol. 27, No. 4, 07.2013, p. 361-370.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Association of birth length and risk of hospitalisation among full-term babies in Japan
AU - Kato, Tsuguhiko
AU - Yorifuji, Takashi
AU - Inoue, Sachiko
AU - Doi, Hiroyuki
AU - Kawachi, Ichiro
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - Background Barker's fetal programming hypothesis suggests that disproportionate size at birth may have a lifelong impact on one's health. However, the literature on birth length is considerably more sparse compared with birthweight. We, therefore, examined the relationship between birth length and hospitalisation early in life among Japanese children. Methods We used the nationwide Longitudinal Survey of Babies in 21st Century and restricted the study subjects to full-term singleton babies (n = 44 057). We estimated the effects of birth length and birthweight on the risk of hospitalisation using log linear regression models. We controlled for a set of neonatal and maternal factors. Results Birth length was associated with the chance of hospitalisation due to all causes between 6 and 18 months of age. In addition, the association was stronger than that with birthweight. Adjusted risk ratios showed that the relationship between birth length and hospitalisation was U-shaped: 1.16 [95% confidence intervals, 1.08, 1.25] at 30-48 cm, 1 [Reference] at 49 cm, 1.13 [1.04, 1.22] at 50 cm, and 1.11 [1.02, 1.20] at 51-60 cm. Short babies with low or high weight, as well as long babies with low weight, seem to be at increased risk of hospitalisation. Conclusions We found a U-shaped relationship between birth length and risk of hospitalisation due to all causes during the period from 6 to 18 months.
AB - Background Barker's fetal programming hypothesis suggests that disproportionate size at birth may have a lifelong impact on one's health. However, the literature on birth length is considerably more sparse compared with birthweight. We, therefore, examined the relationship between birth length and hospitalisation early in life among Japanese children. Methods We used the nationwide Longitudinal Survey of Babies in 21st Century and restricted the study subjects to full-term singleton babies (n = 44 057). We estimated the effects of birth length and birthweight on the risk of hospitalisation using log linear regression models. We controlled for a set of neonatal and maternal factors. Results Birth length was associated with the chance of hospitalisation due to all causes between 6 and 18 months of age. In addition, the association was stronger than that with birthweight. Adjusted risk ratios showed that the relationship between birth length and hospitalisation was U-shaped: 1.16 [95% confidence intervals, 1.08, 1.25] at 30-48 cm, 1 [Reference] at 49 cm, 1.13 [1.04, 1.22] at 50 cm, and 1.11 [1.02, 1.20] at 51-60 cm. Short babies with low or high weight, as well as long babies with low weight, seem to be at increased risk of hospitalisation. Conclusions We found a U-shaped relationship between birth length and risk of hospitalisation due to all causes during the period from 6 to 18 months.
KW - birth length
KW - birth weight
KW - epidemiology
KW - fetal growth
KW - hospitalization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879242413&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84879242413&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/ppe.12062
DO - 10.1111/ppe.12062
M3 - Article
VL - 27
SP - 361
EP - 370
JO - Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
JF - Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
SN - 0269-5022
IS - 4
ER -