Household income, fetal size and birth weight: an analysis of eight populations

Steve Turner (Lead / Corresponding author), Anke G Posthumus, Eric A P Steegers, Amel AlMakoshi, Bahauddin Sallout, Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman, Emily Oken, Ben Kumwenda, Fatemah Alostad, Catherine Wright-Corker, Laura Watson, Diane Mak, Hiu Ching Cheung, Alice Judge, Lorna Aucott, Vincent W V Jaddoe, Isabella Annesi Maesano, Munawar Hussain Soomro, Peter Hindmarsh, Geir JacobsenTorstein Vik, Isolina Riaño-Galan, Ana Cristina Rodríguez-Dehli, Aitana Lertxundi, Loreto Santa Marina Rodriguez, Martine Vrijheid, Jordi Julvez, Ana Esplugues, Carmen Iñiguez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The age at onset of the association between poverty and poor health is not understood. Our hypothesis was that individuals from highest household income (HI), compared to those with lowest HI, will have increased fetal size in the second and third trimester and birth.

METHODS: Second and third trimester fetal ultrasound measurements and birth measurements were obtained from eight cohorts. Results were analysed in cross-sectional two-stage individual patient data (IPD) analyses and also a longitudinal one-stage IPD analysis.

RESULTS: The eight cohorts included 21 714 individuals. In the two-stage (cross-sectional) IPD analysis, individuals from the highest HI category compared with those from the lowest HI category had larger head size at birth (mean difference 0.22 z score (0.07, 0.36)), in the third trimester (0.25 (0.16, 0.33)) and second trimester (0.11 (0.02, 0.19)). Weight was higher at birth in the highest HI category. In the one-stage (longitudinal) IPD analysis which included data from six cohorts (n=11 062), head size was larger (mean difference 0.13 (0.03, 0.23)) for individuals in the highest HI compared with lowest category, and this difference became greater between the second trimester and birth. Similarly, in the one-stage IPD, weight was heavier in second highest HI category compared with the lowest (mean difference 0.10 (0 .00, 0.20)) and the difference widened as pregnancy progressed. Length was not linked to HI category in the longitudinal model.

CONCLUSIONS: The association between HI, an index of poverty, and fetal size is already present in the second trimester.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)629-636
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Volume76
Issue number7
Early online date12 Apr 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2022

Keywords

  • Birth Weight
  • Embryonic And Fetal Development
  • Epidemiology
  • Poverty

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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