[Early determinants of random blood glucose among adults of the 1982 birth cohort, Pelotas, Southern Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of socioeconomic variables, birth weight, duration of breastfeeding and income changes on random blood glucose levels among young adults.


METHODS
This was a study on the birth cohort from 1982, when the 5,914 hospital births that occurred in the city of Pelotas (Southern Brazil) were identified and the mothers were interviewed. The children whose families lived in the urban area of the city were followed up several times. In 2004-5, 4,927 individuals of the cohort were interviewed and blood was collected from the fingertips of 3,730 of them for random blood glucose measurements. Associations between random blood glucose levels and skin color, family income at birth, maternal schooling, income change between 1982 and 2004-5, birth weight and duration of breastfeeding were evaluated.


RESULTS
The mean blood glucose level was 97.3 +/- 15.1mg/dL, and it was greater among the men. None of the variables studied was associated with the men's blood glucose level. Among the women, maternal schooling, family income at 23 years of age and birth weight were inversely associated with blood glucose levels. However, birth weight lost its statistical significance in the multivariable analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Birth weight and duration of breastfeeding did not present any long-term effect on random blood glucose levels. Only maternal schooling level and present income presented associations with random blood glucose levels among the women.
Horta
Bernardo L
BL
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil. blhorta@uol.com.br
Gigante
Denise P
DP
Victora
Cesar G
CG
Barros
Fernando C
FC
Oliveira
Isabel
I
Silveira
Vera
V
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose