Body size at birth and coronary heart disease-related hospital care in adult men - findings from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study.

Abstract

AIM:

We investigated, among those who had been hospitalized at least once due to coronary heart disease (CHD), the relationship between ponderal index (PI, birthweight/length3) at birth, a measure of thinness, and the age at first hospitalization due to CHD, the number of CHD-related hospital care episodes, and cost of CHD-related hospital care from young adulthood to old age.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Data from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study included 964 men born in Helsinki, Finland during 1934-1944, who had been hospitalized due to CHD and had birth anthropometrics data. PI (kg/m3) was categorized into low (<25.0), medium (25.0-27.5), and high (>27.5). CHD-related hospital care data were available from 1971 to 2013. We observed an earlier onset of (p = .014 for linearity) and a higher rate of CHD-related hospital care episodes among those in the lowest PI group (incidence rate ratio: 1.35 [95% confidence interval: 1.16-1.59, p < .001]), compared to the highest PI group. CHD-related hospital care costs in the lowest PI group were 25% (p = .001, 4% to 46%) higher compared to those in the highest PI group.

DISCUSSION:

Thinness at birth is associated with earlier onset, higher prevalence, and higher accumulated costs of CHD-related hospital in-patient care among men who developed CHD. KEY MESSAGES Findings from this large birth cohort indicate that the onset of coronary heart disease (CHD)-related hospital in-patient care occurred at younger age during the 42-year time period among men who were born thin. Lower ponderal index (PI) was associated with a higher rate of CHD-related hospital in-patient care during the time period. We observed a linear increase in CHD-related hospital in-patient care costs across PI groups.

• Authors: Monika E von Bonsdorff, Mikaela B von Bonsdorff, Janne Martikainen, Minna Salonen, Eero Kajantie, Hannu Kautiainen, Johan G Eriksson
• Journal: Annals of medicine (Ann Med) Vol. 49 Issue 2 Pg. 126-133 (03 2017) ISSN: 1365-2060 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27662267 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Age of Onset
• Birth Weight (physiology)
• Body Size (physiology)
• Cohort Studies
• Coronary Disease (economics, epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Finland (epidemiology)
• Hospitalization (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Male
• Prevalence
• Thinness (complications, economics, epidemiology)