Line Sletner1, Svein Rasmussen2, Anne Karen Jenum3, Britt Nakstad4, Odd Harald Rognerud Jensen5, Siri Vangen6. 1. Department of Pediatric and Adolescents Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway. Electronic address: line.sletner@medisin.uio.no. 2. Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Svein.Rasmussen@uib.no. 3. Department of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: a.k.jenum@medisin.uio.no. 4. Department of Pediatric and Adolescents Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Ahus, University of Oslo, Lørenskog, Norway. Electronic address: britt.nakstad@medisin.uio.no. 5. Faculty of Health, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: oddhrj@gmail.com. 6. Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Women's Health, Department for Woman and Child Health, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: sirvan@ous-hf.no.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Impaired or excessive fetal growth is associated with adverse short- and long-term health outcomes that differ between ethnic groups. We explored ethnic differences in fetal size and growth from mid pregnancy until birth. METHODS: Data are from the multi-ethnic STORK-Groruddalen study, a population-based, prospective cohort of 823 pregnant women and their offspring in Oslo, Norway. Measures were z-scores of estimated fetal weight (EFW), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL), in gestational week 24, 32 and 37, measured by ultrasound, and similar measures at birth. Differences in fetal size and growth were assessed using separate Linear Mixed Models including all four time points, with ethnic Europeans as reference. RESULTS: In week 24 South Asian fetuses had smaller AC, but larger FL than Europeans, and slightly lower EFW (-0.17 SD (-0.33, -0.01), p=0.04). Middle East/North African fetuses also had larger FL, but similar AC, and hence slightly higher EFW (0.18 (0.003, 0.36), p=0.05). Both groups had slower growth of AC, FL and EFW from this time until birth, and had -0.61 SD (-0.73, -0.49) and -0.28 SD (-0.41, -0.15) lower birth weight respectively. Ethnic East Asians, on the other hand, were smaller throughout pregnancy and had -0.58 SD (-0.82, -0.34) lower birth weight. Significant ethnic differences remained after adjusting for maternal factors. CONCLUSION: We observed ethnic differences in fetal size and body proportions already in gestational week 24, and in fetal growth from this time until birth, which were only partly explained by key maternal factors.
OBJECTIVES: Impaired or excessive fetal growth is associated with adverse short- and long-term health outcomes that differ between ethnic groups. We explored ethnic differences in fetal size and growth from mid pregnancy until birth. METHODS: Data are from the multi-ethnic STORK-Groruddalen study, a population-based, prospective cohort of 823 pregnant women and their offspring in Oslo, Norway. Measures were z-scores of estimated fetal weight (EFW), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL), in gestational week 24, 32 and 37, measured by ultrasound, and similar measures at birth. Differences in fetal size and growth were assessed using separate Linear Mixed Models including all four time points, with ethnic Europeans as reference. RESULTS: In week 24 South Asian fetuses had smaller AC, but larger FL than Europeans, and slightly lower EFW (-0.17 SD (-0.33, -0.01), p=0.04). Middle East/North African fetuses also had larger FL, but similar AC, and hence slightly higher EFW (0.18 (0.003, 0.36), p=0.05). Both groups had slower growth of AC, FL and EFW from this time until birth, and had -0.61 SD (-0.73, -0.49) and -0.28 SD (-0.41, -0.15) lower birth weight respectively. Ethnic East Asians, on the other hand, were smaller throughout pregnancy and had -0.58 SD (-0.82, -0.34) lower birth weight. Significant ethnic differences remained after adjusting for maternal factors. CONCLUSION: We observed ethnic differences in fetal size and body proportions already in gestational week 24, and in fetal growth from this time until birth, which were only partly explained by key maternal factors.
Authors: Line Sletner; Anne Karen Jenum; Chittaranjan S Yajnik; Kjersti Mørkrid; Britt Nakstad; Odd Harald Rognerud-Jensen; Kåre I Birkeland; Siri Vangen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-03-02 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Sandra Larsen; Camilla Haavaldsen; Elisabeth Krefting Bjelland; Johanne Dypvik; Anne Marie Jukic; Anne Eskild Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2018-08-01 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Judith S Brand; Jane West; Derek Tuffnell; Philippa K Bird; John Wright; Kate Tilling; Debbie A Lawlor Journal: BMC Med Date: 2018-11-06 Impact factor: 8.775
Authors: Nicolas Fragoso-Bargas; Julia O Opsahl; Nadezhda Kiryushchenko; Yvonne Böttcher; Sindre Lee-Ødegård; Elisabeth Qvigstad; Kåre Rønn Richardsen; Christin W Waage; Line Sletner; Anne Karen Jenum; Rashmi B Prasad; Leif C Groop; Gunn-Helen Moen; Kåre I Birkeland; Christine Sommer Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-08-13 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Christin W Waage; Ibrahim Mdala; Hein Stigum; Anne Karen Jenum; Kåre I Birkeland; Nilam Shakeel; Trond M Michelsen; Kåre R Richardsen; Line Sletner Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2022-03-24 Impact factor: 3.007