The infant growth of boys who later develop coronary heart disease.
BACKGROUND
The association between low birth-weight and coronary heart disease has been repeatedly shown. Only two previous studies have examined the effects of weight gain during infancy and later coronary heart disease.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the association between infant growth and coronary heart disease in adult life.


METHODS
2345 men born at the Helsinki City Maternity Hospital during 1934-44 with information on birth size and growth during infancy and childhood were included in the study cohort.


RESULTS
There was a 3-fold fall in hazard ratios for coronary heart disease between men who weighed < or = 8 kg at 1 year and those who weighed > 12 kg (P < 0.00001). The fall was steeper among men whose placental weight at birth was below average. Men born into families with low socio-economic status had lower weight gain during infancy and higher rates of coronary heart disease. The increased risk of coronary heart disease in men who grew slowly during infancy was greatest in those who had low placental weight at birth.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor infant growth and small body size at one year predict coronary heart disease more strongly than low birth-weight.
National Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Diabetes and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Helsinki, Finland.
Tom J
TJ
Forsén
Johan G
JG
Eriksson
Clive
C
Osmond
David J P
DJ
Barker
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors