C Thompson1, H Syddall, I Rodin, C Osmond, D J Barker. 1. MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit and Community Clinical Sciences Research Division, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low birth weight is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and hypertension. Depression is highly associated with these conditions. AIMS: To examine the association between birth weight and depression in late life. METHOD: A total of 882 singleton term births in the 1920s had contemporary records of birth weight and weight at 1 year. At 68 years all completed the Geriatric Depression Scale and 867 completed the Geriatric Mental State Examination. A logistic regression was used to analyse the associations between depression, birth weight and weight at 1 year while adjusting for known risk factors. RESULTS: Current social class, social class at birth, recent bereavement, social isolation and physical illness increased the risk of depression. After adjusting for these and weight at 1 year, the odds ratios for depression among men, but not women, rose incrementally with decreasing birth weight (1.0, 12.8; for continuous variable, P<0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Foetal undernutrition predisposes men to depression in late adult life. If replicated, these results would suggest a neurodevelopmental aetiology of depression, possibly mediated by programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
BACKGROUND: Low birth weight is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and hypertension. Depression is highly associated with these conditions. AIMS: To examine the association between birth weight and depression in late life. METHOD: A total of 882 singleton term births in the 1920s had contemporary records of birth weight and weight at 1 year. At 68 years all completed the Geriatric Depression Scale and 867 completed the Geriatric Mental State Examination. A logistic regression was used to analyse the associations between depression, birth weight and weight at 1 year while adjusting for known risk factors. RESULTS: Current social class, social class at birth, recent bereavement, social isolation and physical illness increased the risk of depression. After adjusting for these and weight at 1 year, the odds ratios for depression among men, but not women, rose incrementally with decreasing birth weight (1.0, 12.8; for continuous variable, P<0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Foetal undernutrition predisposes men to depression in late adult life. If replicated, these results would suggest a neurodevelopmental aetiology of depression, possibly mediated by programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Authors: Farnaz Sabet; Linda M Richter; Paul G Ramchandani; Alan Stein; Maria A Quigley; Shane A Norris Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2009-05-11 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Luciana Anselmi; Fernando C Barros; Gicele C Minten; Denise P Gigante; Bernardo L Horta; Cesar G Victora Journal: Rev Saude Publica Date: 2008-12 Impact factor: 2.106