Weight in infancy and prevalence of coronary heart disease in adult life.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether low birth weight and low weight at 1 year are followed by an increased prevalence of coronary heart disease in adult life.


METHODS
A follow up study of men born during 1920-30 whose birth weights and weights at 1 year were recorded.


METHODS
Hertfordshire, England.


METHODS
290 men born and still living in East Hertfordshire.


METHODS
The prevalence of coronary heart disease, defined by the Rose/WHO chest pain questionnaire, standard electrocardiographic criteria, or history of coronary artery angioplasty or graft surgery.


RESULTS
42 (14%) men had coronary heart disease. Their mean birth weight, 7.9 lb (3600 g), was the same as that of the other men. Their mean weight at 1 year, 21.8 lb (9.9 kg), was 1 lb (454 g) lower (95% confidence interval 0.1 to 1.8, P = 0.02). Percentages of men with coronary heart disease fell from 27% in those who weighed 18 lb (8.2 kg) or less at 1 year to 9% in those who weighed more than 26 lb (11.8 kg) (P value for trend = 0.03). This trend occurred in both smokers and non-smokers and within each social class.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings add to the evidence that coronary heart disease is "programmed" during early growth.
Fall
C H
CH
MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital.
Vijayakumar
M
M
Barker
D J
DJ
Osmond
C
C
Duggleby
S
S
D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012923:Social Class