The relation of small head circumference and thinness at birth to death from cardiovascular disease in adult life

Barker DJP, Osmond C

1993

Sheffield, England

A follow up study of 1586 men born in the same hospital during 1907-24 whose birth weight, head circumferences, and other body measurements were recorded at birth. The main result is that reduced fetal growth is associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease.

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)