Relation of birth weight and childhood respiratory infection to adult lung function and death from chronic obstructive airways disease

Barker DJP, Godfrey KM

1991

Hertfordshire, England

5,718 men born in Hertfordshire during 1911-30 were followed up. Birth weight, weight at 1 year and childhood illnesses had been recorded. It was concluded that lower birth weight was associated with worse lung function.

As in many studies relating an adult condition to birth size, birth order has not been taken into consideration. Yet birth order is the best known single factor influencing birth weight. For example according to a British calculation the average difference in birth weight between first born and second born children is 138 grams. (see Odent M., Tsujino J., Studies exploring health in relation to intrauterine life should look at birth order, BMJ 1997; 314:1416). This study should be viewed in light of entry 0097.