The Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort study: rationale and methods.
The Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study is an ongoing prospective cohort study that recruits pregnant women early in pregnancy and, as of 2012, is following up their infants to 3 years of age. It has currently enrolled approximately 5000 Canadians (2000 pregnant women, their offspring and many of their partners). The primary aims of the APrON study were to determine the relationships between maternal nutrient intake and status, before, during and after gestation, and (1) maternal mood; (2) birth and obstetric outcomes; and (3) infant neurodevelopment. We have collected comprehensive maternal nutrition, anthropometric, biological and mental health data at multiple points in the pregnancy and the post-partum period, as well as obstetrical, birth, health and neurodevelopmental outcomes of these pregnancies. The study continues to follow the infants through to 36 months of age. The current report describes the study design and methods, and findings of some pilot work. The APrON study is a significant resource with opportunities for collaboration.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Primary Health Care, University of Tilburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Teaching & Research Support, University of Groningen, The Netherlands Clinical & Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands Department of Paediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Bonnie J
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Kaplan
Gerald F
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Giesbrecht
Brenda M Y
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Leung
Catherine J
CJ
Field
Deborah
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Dewey
Rhonda C
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Bell
Donna P
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Manca
Maeve
M
O'Beirne
David W
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Johnston
Victor J
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Pop
Nalini
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Singhal
Lisa
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Gagnon
Francois P
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Bernier
Misha
M
Eliasziw
Linda J
LJ
McCargar
Libbe
L
Kooistra
Anna
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Farmer
Marja
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Cantell
Laki
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Goonewardene
Linda M
LM
Casey
Nicole
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Letourneau
Jonathan W
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Martin
D000416:Alberta; D000886:Anthropometry; D002657:Child Development; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires