Low birth weight does not increase the risk of nephropathy in Finnish type 1 diabetic patients.
BACKGROUND
Low birth weight (LBW) has been linked to renal disease both in animal models and human studies. However, the role of birth weight in the development of diabetic nephropathy is unclear. We, therefore, studied the impact of birth weight on the development of diabetic nephropathy and other related traits, such as diabetic retinopathy and macrovascular disease, in Caucasian type 1 diabetic patients.


METHODS
Data on size at birth were obtained from original birth certificates in 1543 Finnish patients with type 1 diabetes. The patients were divided into those with low (LBW; below the 10th percentile), normal (NBW; 11-90th percentile) and high birth weight (HBW; above the 90th percentile).


RESULTS
Diabetic nephropathy was equally common in the groups with various birth weight (LBW vs NBW vs HBW: 21 vs 20 vs 17%, P = NS). End-stage renal disease (3 vs 5 vs 4%, P = NS), laser-treated retinopathy (31 vs 31 vs 31%, P = NS) and macrovascular disease (5 vs 5 vs 8%, P = NS) were equally prevalent in the various birth weight groups. The time from the onset of diabetes to the onset of diabetic nephropathy was similar irrespective of birth weight (log-rank test; P = NS).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our cross-sectional data, LBW does not have an impact on the development of diabetic nephropathy, laser-treated retinopathy or macrovascular disease later in life in Caucasians with type 1 diabetes.
Fagerudd
Johan
J
Folkhälsan Research Center, Biomedicum Helsinki (C318b), PO Box 63, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Forsblom
Carol
C
Pettersson-Fernholm
Kim
K
Saraheimo
Markku
M
Wadén
Johan
J
Rönnback
Mats
M
Rosengård-Bärlund
Milla
M
Björkesten
Clas-Göran Af
CG
Thorn
Lena
L
Wessman
Maija
M
Groop
Per-Henrik
PH
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012922:Social Change; D044465:White People