D L Dahly1, L S Adair, K A Bollen. 1. Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA. dahly@email.unc.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Birth-size is a problematic proxy for the fetal environment, and regression models testing for associations between birth-size and blood pressure have been criticized. METHODS: We modelled fetal environment as a latent variable determined by maternal height and arm fat area (AFA) during pregnancy using structural equation modelling. We tested for associations between latent fetal environment (LFE) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) while controlling for birth weight (BW) and current weight (CW). Data are from 1435 male and 1218 female young adult Filipinos (2005; mean age 21 years) enrolled in the Cebu Longitudinal Heath and Nutrition Survey, an ongoing, community-based study of a one-year birth cohort. Using AMOS 6.0, LFE was modelled as a determinant of BW, CW and SBP; CW was modelled as a determinant of SBP. RESULTS: Overall model fit was excellent (chi2: 32.14, 27 df, P=0.23). The estimated direct relationship between LFE and SBP was inverse for both males ((-0.43) -0.26 (-0.10)) and females ((-0.29) -0.18 (-0.07)). CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with the hypothesis that maternal height and AFA impact fetal development in a manner that is positively associated with fetal growth (as reflected by BW) and inversely associated with SBP in young adulthood.
BACKGROUND: Birth-size is a problematic proxy for the fetal environment, and regression models testing for associations between birth-size and blood pressure have been criticized. METHODS: We modelled fetal environment as a latent variable determined by maternal height and arm fat area (AFA) during pregnancy using structural equation modelling. We tested for associations between latent fetal environment (LFE) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) while controlling for birth weight (BW) and current weight (CW). Data are from 1435 male and 1218 female young adult Filipinos (2005; mean age 21 years) enrolled in the Cebu Longitudinal Heath and Nutrition Survey, an ongoing, community-based study of a one-year birth cohort. Using AMOS 6.0, LFE was modelled as a determinant of BW, CW and SBP; CW was modelled as a determinant of SBP. RESULTS: Overall model fit was excellent (chi2: 32.14, 27 df, P=0.23). The estimated direct relationship between LFE and SBP was inverse for both males ((-0.43) -0.26 (-0.10)) and females ((-0.29) -0.18 (-0.07)). CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with the hypothesis that maternal height and AFA impact fetal development in a manner that is positively associated with fetal growth (as reflected by BW) and inversely associated with SBP in young adulthood.
Authors: Bianca L De Stavola; Dorothea Nitsch; Isabel dos Santos Silva; Valerie McCormack; Rebecca Hardy; Vera Mann; Tim J Cole; Susan Morton; David A Leon Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2005-11-23 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Elizabeth M Widen; Robin M Whyatt; Lori A Hoepner; Noel T Mueller; Judyth Ramirez-Carvey; Sharon E Oberfield; Abeer Hassoun; Frederica P Perera; Dympna Gallagher; Andrew G Rundle Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2015-03-05 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Madeleine U Shalowitz; Christine Dunkel Schetter; Marianne M Hillemeier; Vernon M Chinchilli; Emma K Adam; Calvin J Hobel; Sharon Landesman Ramey; Maxine Reed Vance; Patricia O'Campo; John M Thorp; Teresa E Seeman; Tonse N K Raju Journal: Am J Perinatol Date: 2018-12-14 Impact factor: 1.862
Authors: Linsay Gray; George Davey Smith; Alex McConnachie; Graham C M Watt; Carole L Hart; Mark N Upton; Peter W Macfarlane; G David Batty Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2012-10-19 Impact factor: 7.196