Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology via MedWorm.com

(Mis)measuring

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

A biobank of primary teeth within the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa): a resource for the future

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryTvinnereim HM, Lygre GB, Haug K, Schreuder P, Klock K. A biobank of primary teeth within the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa): a resource for the future. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; ••: ••–••.The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) is a prospective population‐based cohort study including >100 000 pregnancies and following the children through childhood, using questionnaires and collecting biological samples. The aim of MoBa is to test specific aetiological hypotheses by estimating the association between exposure and disease, aiming at prevention. A biobank for exfoliated primary teeth collected from the children participating in MoBa has been established (MoBaTooth Biobank). Samples of tooth tissues from the primary dent...

California Very Preterm Birth Study: design and characteristics of the population‐ and biospecimen bank‐based nested case–control study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryKharrazi M, Pearl M, Yang J, DeLorenze GN, Bean CJ, Callaghan WM, Grant A, Lackritz E, Romero R, Satten GA, Simhan H, Torres AR, Westover JB, Yolken R, Williamson DM. California Very Preterm Birth Study: design and characteristics of the population‐ and biospecimen bank‐based nested case–control study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; ••:••–••.Very preterm birth (VPTB) is a leading cause of infant mortality, morbidity and racial disparity in the US. The underlying causes of VPTB are multiple and poorly understood. The California Very Preterm Birth Study was conducted to discover maternal and infant genetic and environmental factors associated with VPTB. This paper describes the study design, population, data and specimen collection, laboratory methods ...

Do hypertensive diseases of pregnancy disrupt neurocognitive development in offspring?

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryWhitehouse AJO, Robinson M, Newnham JP, Pennell CE. Do hypertensive diseases of pregnancy disrupt neurocognitive development in offspring? Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; ••:••–••.The current study sought to determine whether hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (gestational hypertension and pre‐eclampsia) are associated with neurocognitive outcomes in middle childhood. Participants were members of the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Data were available for 1389 children (675 females; mean age = 10.59 years; SD = 0.19). Twenty‐five per cent of these participants were offspring of pregnancies complicated by either gestational hypertension (n = 279), or pre‐eclampsia (n = 34). Verbal ability at age 10 years was assessed ...

The bias in current measures of gestational weight gain

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study aimed to quantify the extent to which currently used GWG measures may bias the apparent relationship between maternal weight gain and risk of preterm birth. For each woman in a provincial perinatal database registry (British Columbia, Canada, 2000–2009), a total GWG was simulated such that it was uncorrelated with risk of preterm birth. The simulation was based on serial antenatal GWG measurements from a sample of term pregnancies. Simulated GWGs were classified using three approaches: total weight gain (kg), average rate of weight gain (kg/week) or adequacy of GWG in relation to Institute of Medicine recommendations. Their association with preterm birth ≤32 weeks was explored using logistic regression. All measures of GWG induced an apparent association between GWG and pret...

Maternal education inequalities in height growth rates in early childhood: 2004 Pelotas birth cohort study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We examined the associations of maternal education with birth length and trajectories of growth in length/height, and explored the effect of adjusting for a number of potential confounder or mediator factors.We showed linear and positive associations of maternal education with birth length and length/height growth rates at 0–3 months and 12–29/32 months with very little association at 3–12 months, particularly in boys. By age 4 years the mean height of boys was 101.06 cm (SE = 0.28) in the lowest and 104.20 cm (SE = 0.15) in the highest education category (mean difference 3.14 cm, SE = 0.32, P < 0.001). Among girls the mean height was 100.02 cm (SE = 0.27) and 103.03 cm (SE = 0.15) in the lowest and highest education categories, respectively (mean...

Temporal trends in sudden infant death syndrome in Canada from 1991 to 2005: contribution of changes in cause of death assignment practices and in maternal and infant characteristics

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study was undertaken to determine whether there was such a shift in diagnosis from SIDS to other causes of death in Canada, and to quantify the true temporal decrease in SIDS. Cause‐specific infant death rates were compared across three periods: 1991–95, 1996–2000 and 2001–05 using the Canadian linked livebirth‐infant death file. The temporal decline in SIDS was estimated after adjustment for maternal and infant characteristics such as maternal age and small‐for‐gestational age using logistic regression. Deaths from SIDS decreased from 78.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 73.4, 83.4] per 100 000 livebirths in 1991–95, to 48.5 [95% CI 44.3, 52.7] in 1996–2000 and to 34.6 [95% CI 31.0, 38.3] in 2001–05. Mortality rates from other ill‐defined and unspecified causes ...

Early‐life soy exposure and age at menarche

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:01:22 +0100

This study examines the timing of menarche in relation to infant‐feeding methods, specifically addressing the potential effects of soy isoflavone exposure through soy‐based infant feeding. Subjects were participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Mothers were enrolled during pregnancy and their children have been followed prospectively. Early‐life feeding regimes, categorised as primarily breast, early formula, early soy and late soy, were defined using infant‐feeding questionnaires administered during infancy. For this analysis, age at menarche was assessed using questionnaires administered approximately annually between ages 8 and 14.5. Eligible subjects were limited to term, singleton, White females. We used Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Co...

Projections of diagnosed HIV infection in children and adolescents in New York State*

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryGordon DE, Ghazaryan LR, Maslak J, Anderson BJ, Brousseau KS, Carrascal AF, Smith LC. Projections of diagnosed HIV infection in children and adolescents in New York State. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.Decreasing mother‐to‐child transmission is changing the population of children and adolescents with HIV. This project used recent epidemiological data to develop short‐term projections of children and adolescents living with diagnosed HIV infection in New York State. A population simulation model was created to project prevalence of diagnosed HIV cases aged 0–19 years by age, sex, race/ethnicity and risk for years 2007–2014. Using 2006 data as the baseline population and 2001–2006 diagnosis and death data, annual diagnoses and deaths we...

The effects of exposure to particulate matter and neighbourhood deprivation on gestational hypertension

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryVinikoor‐Imler LC, Gray SC, Edwards SE, Miranda ML. The effects of exposure to particulate matter and neighbourhood deprivation on gestational hypertension. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••: ••–••.Gestational hypertension, pre‐eclampsia and eclampsia are conditions that affect the health of both mothers and infants during and after pregnancy. Recent research indicates the importance of considering environmental, social and individual contributors to poor pregnancy outcomes. Our research examined particulate matter (PM) concentrations as one measure of environmental exposure and neighbourhood quality as one measure of the social environment. We used these measures, as well as maternal characteristics, to predict the risk of gestational hypertension (in...

Atopic diseases in twins born after assisted reproduction

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This study does not support an association between assisted reproduction and development of atopic diseases. This result must be confirmed in subsequent studies, preferably of singleton populations. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Do medical certificates of stillbirth provide accurate and useful information regarding the cause of death?

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryCockerill R, Whitworth MK, Heazell AEP. Do medical certificates of stillbirth provide accurate and useful information regarding the cause of death? Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••: ••–••.Stillbirth affects one in 200 pregnancies in the UK. Understanding the causes of stillbirth is essential to reducing perinatal mortality. Stillbirth certificates represent a potential source of data on perinatal mortality. We aimed to assess whether the information on stillbirth certificates used in the UK is accurate.A retrospective cross‐sectional audit of stillbirth certificates issued in a geographical region of the UK in 2009 was undertaken. Data were recorded from the stillbirth certificate and health records. The cause of death was classified using the ReCoDe sy...

Intrauterine growth and postnatal skeletal development: findings from the Southampton Women's Survey

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:16:42 +0100

SummaryHarvey NC, Mahon PA, Kim M, Cole ZA, Robinson SM, Javaid K, Inskip HM, Godfrey KM, Dennison EM, Cooper C, the SWS Study Group. Intrauterine growth and postnatal skeletal development: findings from the Southampton Women's Survey. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; 26: 34–44.We have previously demonstrated associations between fetal growth in late pregnancy and postnatal bone mass. However, the relationships between the intrauterine and early postnatal skeletal growth trajectory remain unknown. We addressed this in a large population‐based mother–offspring cohort study. A total of 628 mother–offspring pairs were recruited from the Southampton Women's Survey. Fetal abdominal circumference was measured at 11, 19 and 34 weeks gestation using high‐resolution ultrasound ...

In this issue

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:16:31 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Factors affecting newborn care practices in Bangladesh

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

SummaryShahjahan M, Ahmed MR, Rahman MM, Afroz A. Factors affecting newborn care practices in Bangladesh. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; 26: 13–18.Newborn care is of immense importance for the proper development and healthy life of a baby. Although child and infant mortality in South Asia has reduced substantially, the rate of neonatal mortality is still high, although these deaths can be prevented by adopting simple interventions at the community level. The aim of the study was to identify the associated factors which affect newborn care practices. Data for the study were drawn from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007, in which 6150 mothers were considered. The mean age of the mothers was 18 (±3.2) years. A little over 62% of the pregnant women received at le...

Associations between grip strength of parents and their 4‐year‐old children: findings from the Southampton Women's Survey

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

SummaryInskip H, Macdonald‐Wallis C, Kapasi T, Robinson S, Godfrey K, Cooper C, Harvey N, Sayer AA, the Southampton Women's Survey Study Group. Associations between grip strength of parents and their 4‐year‐old children: findings from the Southampton Women's Survey. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.Relationships between birthweight and grip strength throughout the life course suggest that early influences on the growth and development of muscle are important for long‐term muscle function. However, little is known about parental influences on children's grip strength. We have explored this in the Southampton Women's Survey, a prospective general population cohort study from before conception through childhood. Grip strength was measured using a Jama...

Association of self‐reported passive smoking in pregnant women with cotinine level of maternal urine and umbilical cord blood at delivery

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study shows that the pregnant woman's report of passive smoking during pregnancy in Iran is accurate. The questionnaire is an appropriate method to evaluate smoke exposure and could replace cotinine measurement. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and their neonates in spring time in western Turkey

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 05:02:50 +0100

This study was carried out in order to measure serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] concentrations of the pregnant women in the last trimester and in their neonates at delivery and to determine the factors associated with maternal serum 25(OH)D concentrations.Among the patients visiting the Ege Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in the period March to May 2008, 258 healthy pregnant women ≥37 weeks of gestation were included in this study. The information on different characteristics such as the number of pregnancies and births, nutritional status, vitamin and mineral support during gestation, educational status, clothing style and the economic level of the family was collected from women. Blood samples from the mothers and umbilical cord of the newborns were taken to measure 25(OH)D. T...

Stressful events, smoking exposure and other maternal risk factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:12:28 +0100

SummaryHosler AS, Nayak SG, Radigan AM. Stressful events, smoking exposure and other maternal risk factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; 25: 566–574.The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has increased significantly in the last few decades in the US. Understanding its risk factors is imperative for the prevention of GDM and its sequelae, but the roles of behavioural risk factors such as stressful events and smoking on GDM are generally not well understood. Using data obtained from the New York State (NYS) Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System survey for 2004–06 and the NYS birth certificates, we examined relationships between GDM, stressful events and smoking among 2690 women who had live singleton births ...

In this issue

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:12:15 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

The prevalence and risk factors of infantile haemangiomas: a case–control study in the Dutch population

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

SummaryHoornweg MJ, Smeulders MJC, Ubbink DT, van der Horst CMAM. The prevalence and risk factors of infantile haemangiomas: a case–control study in the Dutch population. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.Haemangiomas are considered to be the most common tumours of infancy. However, despite their frequent occurrence the aetiological determinants of their development remain unknown. Identifying these factors may provide insight on their pathogenesis. We performed cross‐sectional screening for haemangiomas in newborns (0–16 months of age) in the general Dutch population. Haemangioma‐specific and pregnancy‐related data were collected in children with a haemangioma. These data were compared in a case–control design using multivariable logistic regre...

Fumes from the spleen

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Blood lead levels and associated sociodemographic factors among preschool children in the South Eastern region of China

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study shows that children in this area still have relatively high BLLs even after the phasing out of leaded gasoline. Both children's and parental factors and community condition are associated with increased BLLs. Future efforts are needed to identify other sources of exposure and develop targeted prevention strategies. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Duration of breast feeding and risk of developmental delay in Taiwanese children: a nationwide birth cohort study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study included 14 621 infants from birth to 18 months of age. In the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study, four developmental screening items adapted from the Denver Development Screening Test were most appropriate for children aged 15 to 18 months. The proportion of young children who had mastered specific milestones increased consistently with longer duration of breast feeding. The adjusted odds ratios of the risk of developmental delay for the longest duration of breast feeding vs. never breast‐fed were 0.69 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57, 0.83] for gross motor, 0.64 [95% CI 0.53, 0.77] for fine motor, 0.74 [95% CI 0.60, 0.91] for language, and 0.76 [95% CI 0.64, 0.90] for personal/social skills. Regardless of when the mothers returned to work, duration of breast feeding was found to ...

International migration and gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review of the literature and meta‐analysis

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

SummaryGagnon AJ, McDermott S, Rigol‐Chachamovich J, Bandyopadhyay M, Stray‐Pedersen B, Stewart D, for the ROAM Collaboration. International migration and gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review of the literature and meta‐analysis. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology••; ••: ••–••.Influxes of migrant women of childbearing age to receiving countries have made their perinatal health status a key priority for many governments. The international research collaboration Reproductive Outcomes And Migration (ROAM) reviewed published studies to assess whether migrants in countries of resettlement have a greater risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) than women in receiving countries. A systematic review of the literature from Medline, Embase, PsychInfo and C...

Fumes from the cupboard

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Systematic review and meta‐analysis investigating breast feeding and childhood wheezing illness

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:18:48 +0100

The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is any association between breast feeding and wheezing in children aged over 5 years and to discover possible sources of heterogeneity. An electronic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was conducted from January 2000 to June 2010. In addition, reference lists from relevant publications were searched. Birth cohort, cross‐sectional and case–control studies were included if they measured any breast feeding or exclusive breast feeding for 3 or 4 months. Wheezing illness, including asthma, was identified based on symptoms, reported diagnosis or objective criteria. Thirty‐one publications were identified for meta‐analysis. There was no association found between any or exclusive breast feeding and wheezing illness, although ...

Husband's preference for a son and women's nutrition: examining the role of actual and desired family composition on women's anaemia and body mass index in India

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This study examines the relationship between the husband's preference for a son, sex composition of children and risk of anaemia and underweight among married Indian women. Information was collected regarding 29 517 couples having at least one child in the nationally representative 2005–06 National Family Health Survey of India. The exposures were husband's preference for a son and sex composition of children: sons only, daughters only and mixed. Outcome included maternal underweight and moderate/severe anaemia. Husband's preference for a son was not found to be associated with his wife's risk of anaemia or underweight. Sex composition of the children was modestly associated with increased odds of anaemia among women from households with daughters only as compared with those with sons ...

Neonatal mortality due to preterm birth at 28–36 weeks' gestation in China, 2003–2008

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryLiang J, Mao M, Dai L, Li X, Miao L, Li Q, He C, Li M, Wang H, Zhu J, Wang Y. Neonatal mortality due to preterm birth at 28–36 weeks' gestation in China, 2003–2008. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••: ••–••.Almost all (99%) neonatal deaths occur in developing countries, where the progress in reducing neonatal mortality rates (NMR) has been small; the Millennium Development Goal for child survival cannot be met if this situation continues. China is among the 10 countries that have the largest numbers of neonatal deaths. In order to provide effective interventions to reduce the national NMR for government policy makers, we analyse the trends, causes and characteristics of the neonatal deaths of preterm babies in different regions of China during the perio...

Refuelling of vehicles, the use of wood burners and the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in childhood

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:09:13 +0100

SummaryBailey HD, de Klerk NH, Fritschi L, Attia J, Daubenton JD, Armstrong BK, Milne E for the Aus‐ALL Consortium. Refuelling of vehicles, the use of wood burners and the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in childhood. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.It is plausible that exposure of the parents before birth or of the child to sources of benzene increases the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The aim of this analysis was to investigate whether refuelling a vehicle with petrol before birth or burning wood to heat the home before or after the child's birth increased the risk of childhood ALL. Data from 389 cases and 876 frequency‐matched controls were analysed using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for study matching...

Infant care practices related to sudden infant death syndrome in South Asian and White British families in the UK

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryBall HL, Moya E, Fairley L, Westman J, Oddie S, Wright J. Infant care practices related to sudden infant death syndrome in South Asian and White British families in the UK. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.In the UK, infants of South Asian parents have a lower rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than White British infants. Infant care and life style behaviours are strongly associated with SIDS risk. This paper describes and explores variability in infant care between White British and South Asian families (of Bangladeshi, Indian or Pakistani origin) in Bradford, UK (the vast majority of which were Pakistani) and identifies areas for targeted SIDS intervention. A cross‐sectional telephone interview study was conducted involving 2560 familie...

Maternal prenatal cigarette, alcohol and illicit drug use and risk of infant leukaemia: a report from the Children's Oncology Group

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:32:38 +0100

We present data from a Children's Oncology Group case–control study of 443 infants diagnosed with acute leukaemia [including acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)] between 1996 and 2006 and 324 population controls. Mothers were queried about their cigarette, alcohol and illicit drug use 1 year before and throughout pregnancy. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals [CI] were calculated using adjusted unconditional logistic regression models. Maternal smoking (>1 cigarette/day) and illicit drug use (any amount) before and/or during pregnancy were not significantly associated with infant leukaemia. Alcohol use (>1 drink/week) during pregnancy was inversely associated with infant leukaemia overall [OR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.43, 0.94], AML [OR =�...

Self‐report versus medical record – perinatal factors in a study of infant leukaemia: a study from the Children's Oncology Group

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryJurek AM, Greenland S, Spector LG, Roesler MA, Robison LL, Ross JA. Self‐report versus medical record – perinatal factors in a study of infant leukaemia: a study from the Children's Oncology Group. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.In a case–control study of infant leukaemia, we assessed agreement between medical records and mother's self‐reported pregnancy‐related conditions and procedures and infant treatments. Interview and medical record data were available for 234 case and 215 control mothers. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for maternal report were estimated for case and control mothers separately, taking the medical record as correct. For most perinatal conditions, sensitivity and specificity were over 75%. Low sensiti...

Feasibility of neonatal dried blood spot retrieval amid evolving state policies (2009–2010): a Children's Oncology Group study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryLinabery AM, Slater ME, Spector LG, Olshan AF, Stork SK, Roesler MA, Reaman GH, Ross JA. Feasibility of neonatal dried blood spot retrieval amid evolving state policies (2009–2010): a Children's Oncology Group study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••: ••–••.Dried blood spots (DBS) are collected uniformly from US newborns to test for metabolic and other disorders. Because evidence exists for prenatal origins of some diseases, DBS may provide unique prenatal exposure records. Some states retain residual DBS and permit their use in aetiological studies. The primary study aim was to assess the feasibility of obtaining residual DBS from state newborn screening programmes for paediatric and adolescent cancer patients nationwide with parental/subject consent/as...

In this issue

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:02:23 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Maternal ethnicity and pre‐eclampsia in New York City, 1995–2003

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryGong J, Savitz DA, Stein CR, Engel SM. Maternal ethnicity and pre‐eclampsia in New York City, 1995–2003. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••: ••–••.Studies on ethnic differences in the risk of pre‐eclampsia are limited. We linked birth records for 902 460 singleton births for the period 1995–2003 in New York City with hospital discharge data to evaluate the association between ethnicity and the risk of pre‐eclampsia and compare risks between US‐born and foreign‐born women. Logistic regression models adjusted for maternal age, maternal education, parity, self‐reported pre‐pregnancy maternal weight, smoking during pregnancy and year of delivery were used to compare each ethnic group with non‐Hispanic White women. The prevalence of pre‐e...

The role of medicine in the decline of post‐War infant mortality in Japan

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryYorifuji T, Tanihara S, Inoue S, Takao S, Kawachi I. The role of medicine in the decline of post‐War infant mortality in Japan. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.The infant mortality rate (IMR) in Japan declined dramatically in the immediate post‐War period (1947–60) in Japan. We compared the time trends in Growth Domestic Product (GDP) in Japan against declines in IMR. We then conducted a prefecture‐level ecological analysis of the rate of decline in IMR and post‐neonatal mortality from 1947 to 1960, focusing on variations in medical resources and public health strategies. IMR in Japan started to decline after World War II, even before the era of rapid economic growth and the introduction of a universal health insurance system in the 1960s...

Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network: design, methods and recruitment experience

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryParker CB, Hogue CJR, Koch MA, Willinger M, Reddy UM, Thorsten VR, Dudley DJ, Silver RM, Coustan D, Saade GR, Conway D, Varner MW, Stoll B, Pinar H, Bukowski R, Carpenter M, Goldenberg R for the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network. Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network: design, methods and recruitment experience. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.The Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network (SCRN) has conducted a multisite, population‐based, case–control study, with prospective enrolment of stillbirths and livebirths at the time of delivery. This paper describes the general design, methods and recruitment experience. The SCRN attempted to enrol all stillbirths and a representative sample of livebirths occurring to residents of pre‐de...

Maternal injuries during the periconceptional period and the risk of birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2005

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryTinker SC, Reefhuis J, Dellinger AM, Jamieson DJ, the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Maternal injuries during the periconceptional period and the risk of birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2005. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.Maternal injuries during pregnancy are common (∼7% prevalence). However, few studies have examined the association between maternal injuries and birth defects. The National Birth Defects Prevention Study is a population‐based case–control study of birth defects in 10 US states. Cases were ascertained through surveillance; controls were randomly selected from infants delivered without major birth defects in the study regions. Mothers completed a telephone interview on exposures befor...

Practical and analytical aspects of using friend controls in case–control studies: experience from a case–control study of childhood cancer

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

We report empirical data on the use of friend controls, specifically response rates, case–control concordance and analytical approaches. The data derive from a North American multi‐institutional study of childhood cancer that was conducted in 2002–07 and that focused on paternal exposures. Case parents nominated friends as potential controls; up to three controls participated per case. For 137 (69%) of the 199 case families, at least one control parent participated. Of 374 potential controls contacted, 247 (66%) participated. Case fathers with controls were markedly more likely to be non‐Hispanic White, college graduates and non‐smokers compared with case fathers without controls. Odds ratios adjusted for demographic characteristics were generally similar but occasionally differe...

Infertility, infertility treatment and behavioural problems in the offspring

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

We examined behavioural problems in children as a function of infertility and infertility treatment, using data from three population‐based birth cohorts in Denmark (Aalborg‐Odense Birth Cohort, Aarhus Birth Cohort and Danish National Birth Cohort). Information on time to pregnancy and infertility treatment was collected during pregnancy. Children aged between 7 and 21 years were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The SDQ was completed by mothers in all cohorts and, in addition, by teachers in the Aarhus cohort and by children themselves in the Aalborg‐Odense cohort. Children born after a time to pregnancy of >12 months and no infertility treatment had a behavioural pattern similar to children of fertile parents. Teachers reported a higher total dif...

Prediction of childhood obesity by infancy weight gain: an individual‐level meta‐analysis

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, infant weight gain showed a consistent positive association with subsequent obesity. A risk score combining birthweight and infant weight gain (or simply infant weight), together with mother's body mass index and sex may allow early stratification of infants at risk of childhood obesity. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

The GABRIEL Advanced Surveys: study design, participation and evaluation of bias

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryGenuneit J, Büchele G, Waser M, Kovacs K, Debinska A, Boznanski A, Strunz‐Lehner C, Horak E, Cullinan P, Heederik D, Braun‐Fahrländer C, von Mutius E, the GABRIELA Study Group. The GABRIEL Advanced Surveys: study design, participation and evaluation of bias. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••: ••–••.Exposure to farming environments has been shown to protect substantially against asthma and atopic disease across Europe and in other parts of the world. The GABRIEL Advanced Surveys (GABRIELA) were conducted to determine factors in farming environments which are fundamental to protecting against asthma and atopic disease.The GABRIEL Advanced Surveys have a multi‐phase stratified design. In a first‐screening phase, a comprehensive population‐based su...

Clustering of fecundability within women

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryMcLain AC, Sundaram R, Cooney MA, Gollenberg AL, Buck Louis GM. Clustering of fecundability within women. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.Adverse pregnancy outcomes have long been observed to cluster within women resulting in the inclusion of past reproductive history in clinical assessments and perinatal scoring systems. However, limited study has focused on the clustering of fecundability as measured by time to pregnancy (TTP), despite growing evidence suggestive of a possible association with adverse pregnancy outcomes known to cluster within women. We sought to empirically evaluate the clustering of conception delay, and TTP more globally, in one of the few existing prospective pregnancy cohort studies that captured women's successive pregnanci...

Long‐term behavioural consequences of infant feeding: the limits of observational studies

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:03:31 +0100

SummaryKramer MS, Fombonne E, Matush L, Bogdanovich N, Dahhou M, Platt RW. Long‐term behavioural consequences of infant feeding: the limits of observational studies. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••: ••–••.Observational (non‐experimental) studies of the association between infant feeding and subsequent child or adult behaviour are prone to residual confounding by subtle differences in psychological attributes and interactional styles of mothers who breast feed vs. those who formula‐feed. We followed up 13 889 6.5‐year‐old Belarusian children who participated in a large cluster‐randomised trial of a breast‐feeding promotion intervention. Behaviour was evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), completed independently by th...

Designing prospective cohort studies for assessing reproductive and developmental toxicity during sensitive windows of human reproduction and development – the LIFE Study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:32:22 +0100

SummaryBuck Louis GM, Schisterman EF, Sweeney AM, Wilcosky TC, Gore‐Langton RE, Lynch CD, Boyd Barr D, Schrader SM, Kim S, Chen Z, Sundaram R, on behalf of the LIFE Study. Designing prospective cohort studies for assessing reproductive and developmental toxicity during sensitive windows of human reproduction and development – the LIFE Study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.The relationship between the environment and human fecundity and fertility remains virtually unstudied from a couple‐based perspective in which longitudinal exposure data and biospecimens are captured across sensitive windows. In response, we completed the LIFE Study with methodology that intended to empirically evaluate a priori purported methodological challenges:• implement...

Physical violence between intimate partners during pregnancy and postpartum: a prediction model for use in primary health care facilities

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This article offers a simple predictive model of physical intimate partner violence (PIPV) to be used by primary health care (PHC) professionals. The sample comprised 811 mothers of children <5 months old attending PHC facilities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A multinomial logit model was used. Measured by the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales, PIPV was classified in three levels (absence, at least one episode during pregnancy or postpartum, and presence in both periods). Socio‐economic, demographic and life style variables were considered as potential predictors. Maternal age <20 years, an education of <8 years of schooling, raising >2 children under 5, tobacco smoking, alcohol misuse and illicit drug use by the mother and/or partner, and perception of baby's ill‐health were id...

Realignment and multiple imputation of longitudinal data: an application to menstrual cycle data

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:10:12 +0100

SummaryMumford SL, Schisterman EF, Gaskins AJ, Pollack AZ, Perkins NJ, Whitcomb BW, Ye A, Wactawski‐Wende J. Realignment and multiple imputation of longitudinal data: an application to menstrual cycle data. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.Reproductive hormone levels are highly variable among premenopausal women during the menstrual cycle. Accurate timing of hormone measurement is essential, especially when investigating day‐ or phase‐specific effects. The BioCycle Study used daily urine home fertility monitors to help detect the luteinising hormone (LH) surge in order to schedule visits with biologically relevant windows of hormonal variability. However, as the LH surge is brief and cycles vary in length, relevant hormonal changes may not align with...

The risk factors and quality of life in children with allergic rhinitis in relation to seasonal attack patterns

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryChen B‐Y, Chan C‐C, Han Y‐Y, Wu H‐P, Guo YL. The risk factors and quality of life in children with allergic rhinitis in relation to seasonal attack patterns. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.A questionnaire survey was conducted to examine whether risk factors and allergic rhinitis (AR)‐related quality of life (QOL) were different among children with different seasonal patterns of AR. Participants were students enrolled in elementary and middle schools in Taipei County, Taiwan. Using moving average and principal component analysis, children with current AR were grouped by attack seasons. The effects of personal and environmental factors on AR seasonality were assessed by logistic regression models. AR severity and AR‐related QOL were comp...

In this issue

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:22:59 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

A Modest (Real Estate) Proposal

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 04 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Secular trends in age at menarche in women in the UK born 1908–93: results from the Breakthrough Generations Study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, menarcheal age appears to have decreased again in recent cohorts after a period of stabilisation. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Neighbourhood socio‐economic characteristics and the risk of preterm birth for migrant and non‐migrant women: a study in a French district

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryZeitlin J, Combier E, Levaillant M, Lasbeur L, Pilkington H, Charreire H, Rivera L. Neighbourhood socio‐economic characteristics and the risk of preterm birth for migrant and non‐migrant women: a study in a French district. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••.Neighbourhood‐level deprivation is associated with preterm birth; preterm birth rates are also higher for some, but not all migrant groups. We studied the impact of neighbourhood characteristics (a deprivation score and the proportion of foreign‐born residents) on singleton preterm birth in the French district of Seine‐Saint‐Denis for women born in France, North Africa, sub‐Saharan Africa and other countries. Multilevel logistic regression models were adjusted for maternal demographi...

Commonalities

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Socioeconomic inequalities and infant mortality of 46 470 preterm infants born in Sweden between 1992 and 2006

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:34:35 +0100

In conclusion, this study showed an increased infant mortality in preterm infants born to women with a less favourable sociodemographic profile. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Duration of gestation, size at birth and later childhood behaviour

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryYang S, Fombonne E, Kramer MS. Duration of gestation, size at birth and later childhood behaviour. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; ••:••–••Although many previous studies have reported an association between preterm birth or small size at birth and later behaviour, multiple methodological limitations threaten the validity of causal inferences from reported associations. The authors have examined the association between gestational age and gestational age‐specific size at birth (weight, length and head circumference) and behaviour in a large sample of children born healthy at term. The data were from the 6.5‐year follow‐up of 13 889 Belarusian children who participated in the Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial, a cluster‐randomised trial ...

Changes in health professionals' knowledge, attitudes and practice following provision of educational resources about prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:40:45 +0100

SummaryPayne J, France K, Henley N, d'Antoine H, Bartu A, O'Leary C, Elliott E, Bower C. Changes in health professionals' knowledge, attitudes and practice following provision of educational resources about prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011.We provided health professionals in Western Australia (WA) with educational resources about prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and assessed changes in their knowledge, attitudes and practice concerning fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Following our 2002 survey of health professionals in WA, we developed and distributed educational resources to 3348 health professionals in WA in 2007. Six months ...

Maternal dietary glycaemic intake during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

SummaryYazdy MM, Mitchell AA, Liu S, Werler MM. Maternal dietary glycaemic intake during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011.High sugar intake has been linked to fetal anomalies in the presence and absence of insulin resistance. Using dietary data collected in the Boston University Slone Epidemiology Birth Defects Study, we examined whether high dietary glycaemic index (dGI) or load (dGL) increased the risk of birth defects. Non‐diabetic mothers of 1921 cases and 704 controls were interviewed within 6 months of delivery (1988–98) about pregnancy events and exposures, including a 99‐item food frequency questionnaire. Case groups included amniotic bands, craniosynostosis, gastroschisis, hypospadias, small intestinal defects, anorectal def...

Analysis of binary outcomes from randomised trials including multiple births: when should clustering be taken into account?

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:40:42 +0100

SummaryYelland LN, Salter AB, Ryan P, Makrides M. Analysis of binary outcomes from randomised trials including multiple births: when should clustering be taken into account? Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; 25: 283–297.Randomised trials involving infants from both single and multiple births present unique statistical challenges. A range of methods have been used to analyse such data, including standard methods which treat all infants as independent, and more complex methods which account for the dependence between outcomes of infants from the same pregnancy. Conflicting recommendations have been made regarding if and when this dependence, or clustering, should be taken into account in the analysis. We studied the performance of ordinary logistic regression, which ignores the c...

The association between neighbourhoods and adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of multi‐level studies

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:40:38 +0100

SummaryMetcalfe A, Lail P, Ghali WA, Sauve RS. The association between neighbourhoods and adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of multi‐level studies. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; 25: 236–245.Many studies have examined the role of neighbourhood environment on birth outcomes but, because of differences in study design and modelling techniques, have found conflicting results. Seven databases were searched (1900–2010) for multi‐level observational studies related to neighbourhood and pregnancy/birth. We identified 1502 articles of which 28 met all inclusion criteria. Meta‐analysis was used to examine the association between neighbourhood income and low birthweight. Most studies showed a significant association between neighbourhood factors a...

A nationwide investigation on gestational age specific birthweight and mortality among Japanese twins

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:40:37 +0100

SummaryTobe RG, Mori R, Shinozuka N, Kubo T, Itabashi K. A nationwide investigation on gestational age specific birthweight and mortality among Japanese twins. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; 25: 228–235.Gestational age specific birthweight has been used as an important indicator to identify the health status of neonates and to provide appropriate neonatal care services to those at high risk. To identify the gestational age specific birthweight of twins born in secondary and tertiary hospitals in Japan and to explore factors affecting mortality, we used a nationwide obstetric database in Japan. Liveborn twins from 2001 to 2005 in the database, which was established with the national Perinatal Health Care Project, were enrolled (n = 22 240). Obstetric data from the medic...

In this issue

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:40:33 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Patterns of alcohol consumption among pregnant African‐American women in Washington, DC, USA

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This study validated the usefulness of our questionnaire in identifying women who were at risk for alcohol consumption during pregnancy across a range of consumption levels. Using our screening tool, women were willing to disclose their drinking habits. This low‐cost method identifies women appropriate for targeting of interventions. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Lower genital tract inflammatory milieu and the risk of subsequent preterm birth: an exploratory factor analysis

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The objectives of this study were to use exploratory factor analysis to discover the underlying structure of cytokines in the lower genital tract immunological milieu, and evaluate the association between the cytokine factors and risk of preterm birth. Women (n = 613) enrolled in a prospective pregnancy cohort study in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania had cervical cytokine concentrations assayed at <16 weeks and were followed for data on pregnancy outcomes. Principal factor analysis identified two primary cytokine patterns at <16 weeks gestation: Factor 1 (pro‐inflammatory/immunomodulatory factor), which loaded highly on interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, monocyte chemotactic protein‐1, and IL‐10, and Factor 2 (anti‐inflammatory factor), which loaded heavily on IL‐4, IL‐...

Psychosocial work stress during pregnancy and birthweight

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

SummaryLee B‐E, Ha M, Park H, Kim Y, Hong Y‐C, Kim YJ, Ha E‐H. Psychosocial work stress during pregnancy and birthweight. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011.Although there is a growing interest in the health effects of psychosocial work stress, studies on the relationships between job stress and adverse reproductive outcome are limited. We, therefore, investigated the associations between prenatal maternal occupational stress and birthweight using 310 mother–infant pairs included in the Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study. Information on job stress was collected by interviewing women at enrolment during the first trimester of pregnancy using standardised questionnaires, namely, the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) of job strain and effort–reward imbal...

Perinatal mortality in relation to birthweight and gestational age: a registry‐based comparison of Northern Norway and Murmansk County, Russia

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The objective was to explore how perinatal mortality relates to birthweight, gestational age and optimal perinatal survival weight for two Arctic populations employing an existing and a newly established birth registry. A medical birth registry for all births in Murmansk County of North‐West Russia became operational on 1st January 2006. Its primary function is to provide useful information for health care officials pertinent to improving perinatal care. The cohort studied consisted of 17 302 births in 2006–07 (Murmansk County) and 16 006 in 2004–06 (Northern Norway). Birthweight probability density functions were analysed, and logistic regression models were employed to calculate gestational‐age‐specific mortality ratios.The perinatal mortality rate was 10.7/1000 in Murmansk...

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers in extremely low gestational age newborns: individual items associated with motor, cognitive, vision and hearing limitations

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

SummaryLuyster RJ, Kuban KCK, O'Shea TM, Paneth N, Allred EN, Leviton A for ELGAN Study investigators. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers in extremely low gestational age newborns: Individual items associated with motor, cognitive, vision and hearing limitations. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011.The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M‐CHAT) has yielded elevated rates of screening failure for children born preterm or with low birthweight. We extended these findings with a detailed examination of M‐CHAT items in a large sample of children born at extremely low gestational age. The sample was grouped according to children's current limitations and degree of impairment. The aim was to better understand how disabilities might influence M‐CHAT scores.Fourteen ...

Discordant time trends in maternal body size and offspring birthweight of term deliveries in France between 1972 and 2003: data from the French National Perinatal Surveys

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

SummaryDiouf I, Charles MA, Blondel B, Heude B, Kaminski M. Discordant time trends in maternal body size and offspring birthweight of term deliveries in France between 1972 and 2003: data from the French National Perinatal Surveys. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011.We investigated time trends in maternal weight before and during pregnancy and in infant birthweight in France, from 1972 to 2003, using data on singleton live term births from the representative National Perinatal Surveys of 1972, 1981, 1995, 1998 and 2003 (n = 8 664, 4 494, 11 445, 12 006, 12 692, respectively). Mothers were interviewed a few days after delivery and data on delivery and the newborn were extracted from hospital records. Maternal prepregnancy weight, height, body mass index and pregnancy w...

Seroepidemiology of varicella‐zoster virus and reliability of varicella history in Turkish children, adolescents and adults

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, a negative history of varicella is not a reliable predictor of varicella antibody status in adolescents and young adults. Serological testing before immunisation will be logical, rather than presumptive vaccination, for adolescents and adults with negative history of varicella. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Antepartum A1C, maternal diabetes outcomes, and selected offspring outcomes: an epidemiological review

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

SummaryKaton J, Williams MA, Reiber G, Miller E. Antepartum A1C, maternal diabetes outcomes, and selected offspring outcomes: an epidemiological review. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011.Between 1989 and 2004, the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the United States increased by 122%. Glycated haemoglobin, as measured by haemoglobin A1C (A1C), can potentially identify pregnant women at high risk for adverse outcomes associated with GDM including macrosomia and post‐partum glucose intolerance. Our objective was to systematically review the literature with respect to A1C levels during pregnancy and associated maternal and offspring outcomes. We used MEDLINE to identify relevant publications from 1975 to 2009. We included articles if they met the following criteri...

Relationship between maternal dietary patterns and hypospadias

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

This study investigated the relationship between maternal nutrition and the risk of hypospadias, particularly focusing on maternal food patterns. We compared 471 hypospadias cases with 490 controls in the United Kingdom. A questionnaire including information on life style, occupation, usual maternal diet and dietary supplements was administered using telephone interviews. Cases and controls were compared for individual food item intake and food patterns derived by cluster analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for income, maternal age, low birthweight, smoking and folic acid supplement use was used to assess the relationship between maternal nutrition and hypospadias. Three food patterns were created with the labels ‘health conscious’, ‘mixed’ and ‘non‐he...

Perinatal outcomes in native Chinese and Chinese‐American women

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

This study aimed to compare perinatal outcomes in native Chinese, foreign‐born and US‐born Chinese‐American women by analysing a cohort of 950 624 singleton pregnancies in south‐east China and 293 849 singleton births from the US live and stillbirth certificates from 1995 to 2004. Only births at 28 weeks or later were included. Compared with US‐born Chinese‐American women, native Chinese and foreign‐born Chinese‐American women had substantially lower risks of having a small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) infant (adjusted relative risk [aRR] ranging from 0.46 to 0.66) or preterm birth (aRR ranging from 0.53 to 0.82). While having a White or Black father had a reduced risk of SGA (aRR = 0.45 and 0.62, respectively), it has an increased risk for preterm birth (aRR =�...

In this issue

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:20:17 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Risk of preterm delivery and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in relation to maternal co‐morbid mood and migraine disorders during pregnancy

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

SummaryCripe SM, Frederick IO, Qiu CF, Williams MA. Risk of preterm delivery and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in relation to maternal co‐morbid mood and migraine disorders during pregnancy. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011.We evaluated the risks of preterm delivery and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy among pregnant women with mood and migraine disorders, using a cohort study of 3432 pregnant women. Maternal pre‐pregnancy or early pregnancy (<20 weeks gestation) mood disorder and pre‐pregnancy migraine diagnoses were ascertained from interview and medical record review. We fitted generalised linear models to derive risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of preterm delivery and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy for women with isolated mood, isolate...

Association between selected folate pathway polymorphisms and nonsyndromic limb reduction defects: a case–parental analysis

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

SummaryCleves MA, Hobbs CA, Zhao W, Krakowiak PA, MacLeod SL, the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Association between selected folate pathway polymorphisms and nonsyndromic limb reduction defects: a case–parental analysis. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010.Inadequate folate status resulting from either genetic variation or nutritional deficiencies has been associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations including orofacial clefting, limb, cardiac and neural tube defects. Few epidemiological studies have examined the association between limb reduction defects (LRDs) and folate‐related genetic polymorphisms other than MTHFR 677C→T. We conducted a case–parental analysis of 148 families who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study to e...

Reliability of routine clinical measurements of neonatal circumferences and research measurements of neonatal skinfold thicknesses: findings from the Born in Bradford study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

SummaryWest J, Manchester B, Wright J, Lawlor DA, Waiblinger D. Reliability of routine clinical measurements of neonatal circumferences and research measurements of neonatal skinfold thicknesses: findings from the Born in Bradford study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011.Assessing neonatal size reliably is important for research and clinical practice. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of routine clinical measurements of neonatal circumferences and of skinfold thicknesses assessed for research purposes. All measurements were undertaken on the same population of neonates born in a large maternity unit in Bradford, UK. Technical error of measurement (TEM), relative TEM and the coefficient of reliability are reported.Intra‐observer TEMs for routine circumference m...

Familial concordance for age at menarche: analyses from the Breakthrough Generations Study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, approximately half of the variation in age at menarche was attributable to additive genetic effects with the remainder attributable to non‐shared environmental effects. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Maternal reproductive history and the risk of isolated congenital malformations

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

We examined the relationship between maternal reproductive history and the newborn's risk of isolated congenital malformations in a large case–control cohort from the Polish Registry of Congenital Malformations. Congenital malformations were classified into four categories: isolated congenital heart defects (n = 1673), isolated cleft palate (n = 255), cleft lip with or without cleft palate (n = 448) and renal agenesis (n = 103). The case groups were compared with a shared group of 2068 controls recruited in the same time period and geographic area. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the risk associated with maternal gravidity and of previous miscarriages after accounting for maternal age and other potential risk factors.In unadjusted analyses, maternal g...

Age at diagnosis and disease progression of cystic fibrosis in an area without newborn screening

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Summaryde Monestrol I, Klint Å, Sparén P, Hjelte L. Age at diagnosis and disease progression of cystic fibrosis in an area without newborn screening. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010.We studied age at diagnosis and disease progression of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with a new study design, using data of 119 patients extracted from Stockholm CF Centre registry. Risk factors for overall morbidity and for lung, liver and nutritional morbidity were investigated separately using time to event methodology (Kaplan‐Meier curves, proportional hazards regression). The patients were followed from: (i) healthy at diagnosis to morbidity, (ii) diagnosis with symptoms of morbidity to being free of morbidity, and (iii) free of morbidity to relapse of morbidity.Median age at diagnosis was 5...

Living near agricultural pesticide applications and the risk of adverse reproductive outcomes: a review of the literature

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:35:16 +0100

SummaryShirangi A, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Vienneau D, Holman CDJ. Living near agricultural pesticide applications and the risk of adverse reproductive outcomes: a review of the literature. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010.Over the last decade, there has been growing concern about the possible health effects, including a number of adverse reproductive outcomes, from pesticide exposure of people living near agricultural fields. This systematic review evaluates the current epidemiological evidence on the association between living near agricultural pesticide applications and adverse reproductive outcomes, including congenital malformations, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), low birthweight, preterm birth and miscarriage.We identified and reviewed 25 studies from a syste...

In this issue

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:41:14 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Is there a direct effect of pre‐eclampsia on cerebral palsy not through preterm birth?

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Developing a community‐based neonatal care intervention: a health facility assessment to inform intervention design

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We present the results of a health facility assessment used in the design stage of Newhints, a community‐based intervention to improve neonatal survival in rural Ghana. We illustrate the methodology, findings and how these were used to inform the design and implementation of Newhints. The assessment involved key informant interviews with staff members at seven health facilities within the study area, including a brief inventory of available drugs and equipment. The key informant interviews identified that practices and health promotion messages at the health facilities were not consistent with one of the key target behaviours of the Newhints intervention – thermal care through delayed infant bathing. Health workers were bathing neonates soon after delivery and also advising women to do...

Leptin levels in cord blood and anthropometric measures at birth: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100

SummaryKarakosta P, Chatzi L, Plana E, Margioris A, Castanas E, Kogevinas M. Leptin levels in cord blood and anthropometric measures at birth: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010.The role of intrauterine environment in the development of obesity is increasingly recognised. Adipokines and specifically leptin have been examined as potential biomarkers predicting early development of obesity. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the epidemiological evidence for the association between leptin levels in cord blood and anthropometric measurements at birth in healthy mother‐newborn pairs. A PubMed search was performed between 1994 and 2009 and manual search of reference lists of retrieved articles. Forty‐four studies met the i...

Epidemiology and outcome of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a 9‐year experience

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, given the small numbers of live isolated CDH cases it is impossible that any network alone would be able to perform a valid RCT of treatments, highlighting the need for collaborative international trials to address this complex condition. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Timing of maturation and predictors of Tanner stage transitions in boys enrolled in a contemporary British cohort

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study describes the timing of puberty in 8‐ to 14‐year‐old boys enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) and identifies factors associated with earlier achievement of advanced pubic hair stages. Women were enrolled during pregnancy and their offspring were followed prospectively. We analysed self‐reported pubic hair Tanner staging collected annually. We used survival models to estimate median age of attainment of pubic hair stage >1, stage >2 and stage >3 of pubic hair development. We also constructed multivariable logistic regression models to identify factors associated with earlier achievement of pubic hair stages.Approximately 5% of the boys reported Tanner pubic hair stage >1 at age 8; 99% of boys were at stage >1 by age 14. ...

Ethics and Epidemiology

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Glutamine‐enriched enteral nutrition in very low birthweight infants and allergic and infectious diseases at 6 years of age

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Summaryvan Zwol A, Moll HA, Fetter WPF, van Elburg RM. Glutamine‐enriched enteral nutrition in very low birthweight infants and allergic and infectious diseases at 6 years of age. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010.In a previous randomised controlled trial, we found that glutamine‐enriched enteral nutrition in 102 very low birthweight (VLBW) infants decreased both the incidence of serious infections in the neonatal period and the risk of atopic dermatitis during the first year of life. We hypothesised that glutamine‐enriched enteral nutrition in VLBW infants in the neonatal period influences the risk of allergic and infectious disease at 6 years of age. Eighty‐eight of the 102 infants were eligible for the follow‐up study (13 died, 1 chromosomal abnormality). Doctor‐dia...

Duration of breast feeding and language ability in middle childhood

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:32:09 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

The change in the rate of vaginal birth after caesarean section

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:32:08 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Foreign body injuries in children: need for a step forward against an old yet neglected epidemic

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:32:08 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

The association of circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and calcium with cognitive performance in adolescents: cross‐sectional study using data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:32:07 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

‘Fumes from the Spleen’ On Preparing a Scientific Poster

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:53:19 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

In this issue

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:53:19 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Feasibility and reliability of classifying gross motor function among children with cerebral palsy using population‐based record surveillance

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:53:17 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

The customised growth potential: an international research tool to study the epidemiology of fetal growth

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:53:16 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

The case against customised birthweight standards

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

How long do preconception risk prediction models hold? Influence of selective fertility on model performance

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Prenatal and childhood environmental tobacco smoke exposure and age at menarche

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:01:20 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

To customise or not to customise: that is the question

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:01:20 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Does in utero exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids influence birthweight, head circumference and birth length? A systematic review of current evidence in humans

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:02:23 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Why are they having infant colic? A nested case–control study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:02:22 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in primary school children of Tabriz, North‐West Iran

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:52:51 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Prenatal environmental tobacco smoke exposure and early childhood body mass index

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:52:50 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Effects of social and psychosocial factors on risk of preterm birth in black women

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:52:50 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Parental occupation and preterm births: a nationwide epidemiological study in Sweden

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:52:49 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Uncovering the complex relationship between pre‐eclampsia, preterm birth and cerebral palsy

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:52:49 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Pre‐pregnancy stress reactivity and pregnancy outcome

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:53:29 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Increased risk of orofacial clefts associated with maternal obesity: case–control study and Monte Carlo‐based bias analysis

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:06:37 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Effect of prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter on ventilatory lung function of preschool children of non‐smoking mothers

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:06:36 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Incidence and distribution of pathogens in early‐onset neonatal sepsis in the era of antenatal antibiotics

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:06:36 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Fifty years of paediatric malignant bone tumours in the West Midlands, UK, 1957–2006: incidence, treatment and outcome

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:06:35 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Wilms' tumour: a systematic review of risk factors and meta‐analysis

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:06:35 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Disparities in the risk of gestational diabetes by race‐ethnicity and country of birth

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:06:35 +0100

Summary (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

In this issue

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:06:33 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Prevalence, pattern and risk factors for undernutrition in early infancy using the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference: a community‐based study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:06:31 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Prenatal exposure to elevated maternal body temperature and risk of epilepsy in childhood: a population‐based pregnancy cohort study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:06:30 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Prevalence, pattern and risk factors for undernutrition in early infancy using the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference: a community-based study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Olusanya BO, Wirz SL, Renner JK. Prevalence, pattern and risk factors for undernutrition in early infancy using the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference: a community-based study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. This cross-sectional study set out to determine the prevalence, pattern and risk factors for undernutrition during early infancy in a setting with substantial non-hospital births against the backdrop of limited evidence on nutritional status in the first three months of life based on an exclusively breast-fed reference population. Undernutrition based on z-scores below [minus]2 for weight-for-age, height/length-for-age and body-mass-index-for-age among infants (0[ndash]3 months) attending clinics for routine Bacille de Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunisation in Lagos, Nigeria fr...

Prenatal exposure to elevated maternal body temperature and risk of epilepsy in childhood: a population-based pregnancy cohort study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Sun Y, Vestergaard M, Christensen J, Olsen J. Prenatal exposure to elevated maternal body temperature and risk of epilepsy in childhood: a population-based pregnancy cohort study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. Elevated maternal body temperature during pregnancy is of clinical concern as side effects have been reported. We estimated the association between maternal fever and sauna bathing during pregnancy and risk of epilepsy in the offspring. We identified 86 810 liveborn singletons from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) and followed them for up to 9 years of age. Information on fever including number, timing, level, duration, and symptoms of each fever episodes was collected in two computer-assisted telephone interviews around 17 and 32 gestational weeks; information o...

Wilms' tumour: a systematic review of risk factors and meta-analysis

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Chu A, Heck JE, Ribeiro KB, Brennan P, Boffetta P, Buffler P, Hung RJ. Wilms' tumour: a systematic review of risk factors and meta-analysis. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. Wilms' tumour comprises 95% of all renal cancers among children less than 15 years of age. The purpose of this review is to examine the existing literature on perinatal and environmental risk factors for Wilms' tumour. A search for epidemiological studies that examined risk factors for Wilms' tumour was undertaken in Medline, LILACS, ISI Web of Science and Dissertation Abstracts. A total of 37 studies, including 14 cohort, 21 case[ndash]control and 2 case[ndash]cohort studies, were identified that examined environmental and perinatal risk factors. Most studies were from Western Europe and North America, and ...

The use of covariates to identify records with implausible gestational ages using the birthweight distribution

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of covariates in identifying birth records with implausible values of gestational age. Birthweight distributions for births with early reported gestational ages are markedly bimodal, suggesting a mixture of two distributions. Most births form a normal-shaped left-hand (primary) distribution and a smaller number form the right-hand (secondary) distribution. The births in the secondary distribution are thought to have gestational age mistakenly reported. Prior work has found that births in the secondary distribution are at higher risk of poor outcomes than those in the primary distribution. Using 2002 US Natality data for gestational ages 26[ndash]35 weeks, we fit normal mixture models to birthweight with and without covariates (mate...

Modelling sequence of prior pregnancies on subsequent risk of very preterm birth

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Watson LF, Rayner J-A, King J, Jolley D, Forster D, Lumley J. Modelling sequence of prior pregnancies on subsequent risk of very preterm birth. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. The prevalence and intractability of preterm birth is known as is its association with reproductive history, but the relationship with sequence of pregnancies is not well studied. The data were from a population-based case[ndash]control study, conducted in Victoria, Australia. The study recruited women giving birth between April 2002 and April 2004 from 73 maternity hospitals. Detailed reproductive histories were collected by interview a few weeks after the birth. The cases were 603 women having a singleton birth between 20 and (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Increased risk of orofacial clefts associated with maternal obesity: case–control study and Monte Carlo-based bias analysis

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Stott-Miller M, Heike CL, Kratz M, Starr JR. Increased risk of orofacial clefts associated with maternal obesity: case[ndash]control study and Monte Carlo-based bias analysis. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. Our objective was to evaluate whether infants born to obese or diabetic women are at higher risk of non-syndromic orofacial clefting. We conducted a population-based case[ndash]control study using Washington State birth certificate and hospitalisation data for the years 1987[ndash]2005. Cases were infants born with orofacial clefts (n = 2153) and controls infants without orofacial clefts (n = 18 070). The primary exposures were maternal obesity (body mass index [ge]30) and diabetes (either pre-existing or gestational). We estimated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) to compare, for...

Disparities in the risk of gestational diabetes by race-ethnicity and country of birth

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

We examined within each race-ethnicity group whether the risk of GDM differs between women born inside and outside the US. The study was a cohort study of 216 089 women who delivered an infant between 1995 and 2004 with plasma glucose data from the screening 50-g glucose challenge test and the diagnostic 100-g, 3-h oral glucose tolerance test. The age-adjusted prevalence of GDM varied by race-ethnicity and was lowest for non-Hispanic white (4.1%) and highest among Asian Indians (11.1%). In multivariable models, being born outside of the US was associated with an increased risk of GDM among black, Asian Indian, Filipina, Pacific Islanders, Chinese, Mexicans and non-Hispanic white women, whereas, Japanese and Korean foreign-born women had a decreased risk of GDM. Clinicians should be aware t...

Maternal vaginal colonisation by Staphylococcus aureus and newborn acquisition at delivery

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Bourgeois-Nicolaos N, Lucet J-C, Daubié C, Benchaba F, Rajguru M, Ruimy R, Andremont A, Armand-Lefèvre L. Maternal vaginal colonisation by Staphylococcus aureus and newborn acquisition at delivery. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. We studied 1139 mother[ndash]infant pairs where the mother had had at least one vaginal swab in the month before delivery and their babies had had gastric and ear swabs taken immediately after delivery. The prevalence of vaginal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus was 5.9% among 1139 pregnant women within 1 month of delivery. The colonisation rate of S. aureus in newborns was tenfold higher when the mother was a vaginal carrier than when she was not (31.3% vs. 2.7%; relative risk 11.6 [95% CI 7.0, 19.2]; P < 0.05). Among carriers, delivery by caesarean...

Adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes and their determinants in rural Vietnam 1999–2005

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Effect of prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter on ventilatory lung function of preschool children of non-smoking mothers

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Jedrychowski WA, Perera FP, Maugeri U, Mroz E, Klimaszewska-Rembiasz M, Flak E, Edwards S, Spengler JD. Effect of prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter on ventilatory lung function of preschool children of non-smoking mothers. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. Impaired fetal development is associated with a number of adult chronic diseases and it is believed that these associations arise as a result of the phenomenon of prenatal programming, which involves persisting changes in structure and function of various body organs caused by ambient factors during critical and vulnerable periods of early development. The main goal of the study was to assess the association between lung function in early childhood and prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which repre...

Modelling prior reproductive history to improve prediction of risk for very preterm birth

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Watson LF, Rayner J-A, King J, Jolley D, Forster D, Lumley J. Modelling prior reproductive history to improve prediction of risk for very preterm birth. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. In published studies of preterm birth, analyses have usually been centred on individual reproductive events and do not account for the joint distributions of these events. In particular, spontaneous and induced abortions have often been studied separately and have been variously reported as having no increased risk, increased risk or different risks for subsequent preterm birth. In order to address this inconsistency, we categorised women into mutually exclusive groups according to their reproductive history, and explored the range of risks associated with different reproductive histories and ass...

Adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes and their determinants in rural Vietnam 1999–2005

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Graner S, Klingberg-Allvin M, Phuc HD, Huong DL, Krantz G, Mogren I. Adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes and their determinants in rural Vietnam 1999[ndash]2005. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. Population-based estimations of perinatal and neonatal outcomes are sparse in Vietnam. There are no previously published data on small for gestational age (SGA) infants. A rural population in northern Vietnam was investigated from 1999 to 2005 (n = 5521). Based on the birthweight distributions within the population under study, reference curves for intrauterine growth for Vietnamese infants were constructed and the prevalence and distribution of SGA was calculated for each sex. Neonatal mortality was estimated as 11.6 per 1000 live births and the perinatal mortality as 25.0 per 1000 ...

Incidence and distribution of pathogens in early-onset neonatal sepsis in the era of antenatal antibiotics

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 27 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

This study aims to determine the effects of AA, recommended by national guidelines, on the incidence and distribution of pathogens in early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS). We performed a population-based, prospective, observational study of level II and III perinatal centres throughout the region of Alsace, a northeastern area of France, between March 2004 and February 2005. The study population included all neonates with confirmed or probable EONS, who were treated with antibiotics for at least 5 days. We analysed exposure to AA, as well as clinical and microbiological data obtained from medical records. A total of 20 131 neonates were born during the study period, and 217 were included in the study. Of these, 24 subjects had confirmed sepsis, 140 had probable sepsis and 53 had possible EON...

Ovarian function and cigarette smoking

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Whitcomb BW, Bodach SD, Mumford SL, Perkins NJ, Trevisan M, Wactawski-Wende J, Liu A, Schisterman F. Ovarian function and cigarette smoking. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. Cigarette smoking has been implicated in reproductive outcomes including delayed conception, but mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. One potential mechanism is the effect of cigarette smoking on reproductive hormones; however, studies evaluating associations between smoking and hormone levels are complicated by variability of hormones and timing of specimen collection. We evaluated smoking among women participating in the BioCycle Study, a longitudinal study of menstrual cycle function in healthy, premenopausal, regularly menstruating women (n = 259). Fertility monitors were used to help...

Fifty years of paediatric malignant bone tumours in the West Midlands, UK, 1957–2006: incidence, treatment and outcome

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Mon, 24 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

We examined the incidence of childhood malignant bone tumours in one large single region of the UK over an extended period of 50 years. The West Midlands specialist regional children's tumour registry holds data on all malignancies and benign brain tumours in children under 15 years in the West Midlands region, which has a population of around 1 million children. Demographic and clinical data have been abstracted and diagnoses reviewed by a panel of expert pathologists. During the period 1957[ndash]2006, 259 cases of malignant paediatric bone tumours were diagnosed. There were 153 osteosarcomas, 78 Ewing sarcomas and 28 other primary bone tumours. The overall age standardised rate was 4.66, with no increase over time, although there was a significant increase in the incidence of Ewing sarc...

Accuracy of the Chinese lunar calendar method to predict a baby's sex: a population-based study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Fri, 21 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Villamor E, Dekker L, Svensson T, Cnattingius S. Accuracy of the Chinese lunar calendar method to predict a baby's sex: a population-based study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. We estimated the accuracy of a non-invasive, inexpensive method (the Chinese lunar calendar, CLC) to predict the sex of a baby from around the time of conception, using 2 840 755 singleton births occurring in Sweden between 1973 and 2006. Maternal lunar age and month of conception were estimated, and used to predict each baby's sex, according to a published algorithm. Kappa statistics were estimated for the actual vs. the CLC-predicted sex of the baby. Overall kappa was 0.0002 [95% CI [minus]0.0009, 0.0014]. Accuracy was not modified by year of conception, maternal age, level of education, body mass ind...

Risk factors for weight faltering in infancy according to age at onset

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, weight faltering in infancy is clearly associated with contemporary measured feeding problems, but the risk mechanisms involved differ in early vs. late onset. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Stillbirth and infant mortality in singletons by cause of death, birthweight, gestational age and birthweight-for-gestation, Newcastle upon Tyne 1961–2000

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Glinianaia SV, Rankin J, Pearce MS, Parker L, Pless-Mulloli T. Stillbirth and infant mortality in singletons by cause of death, birthweight, gestational age and birthweight-for-gestation, Newcastle upon Tyne 1961[ndash]2000. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. The dramatic reduction observed in stillbirth and infant mortality over the last few decades has not been assessed by both birthweight and gestation. We have explored temporal changes in stillbirth and infant mortality in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, by cause of death, birthweight, gestational age, birthweight standardised for gestation and infant sex during 1961[ndash]2000. We included 131 044 singleton births to mothers resident in Newcastle, including 1342 stillbirths and 1620 infant deaths. Cause-, birthweight-, gestational a...

Mortality of mothers from cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes following pregnancy complications in first delivery

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Lykke JA, Langhoff-Roos J, Lockwood CJ, Triche EW, Paidas MJ. Mortality of mothers from cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes following pregnancy complications in first delivery. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. The combined effects of preterm delivery, small-for-gestational-age offspring, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, placental abruption and stillbirth on early maternal death from cardiovascular causes have not previously been described in a large cohort. We investigated the effects of pregnancy complications on early maternal death in a registry-based retrospective cohort study of 782 287 women with a first singleton delivery in Denmark 1978[ndash]2007, followed for a median of 14.8 years (range 0.25[ndash]30.2) accruing 11.6 million person-years. We employed Cox...

Fumes from the spleen

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Effect of folic acid fortification on the incidence of neural tube defects

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of folic acid fortified foods on the incidence of neural tube defects in live newborns at Princess Badea Teaching Hospital, in the north of Jordan, before and after the national food fortification with folic acid was implemented. For the 7-year period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2006, we retrospectively extracted the total number of births at Princess Badea Hospital, as well as the number of pregnancies affected by spina bifida and anencephaly, per 1000 births during the periods before (2000[ndash]01), during (2002[ndash]04) and after (2005[ndash]06) folic acid fortification of grain products, was implemented. Neural tube defects were defined in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10):...

Social and racial inequalities in preterm births in Western Australia, 1984 to 2006

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

This study utilised population-level data to investigate social and racial inequalities in preterm birth among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants in Western Australia. All live, singleton births between 1984 and 2006 (n = 567 468) were included, and multilevel multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate relative differences in preterm infants between socio-economic groups. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants were analysed separately. The prevalence of preterm births increased from 7.1% in 1984[ndash]88 to 7.5% in 1999[ndash]2003, before decreasing to 7.2% in 2004[ndash]06. Inequalities in preterm births between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants increased over time, with the percentage of preterm births being almost twofold higher for Aboriginal infants (14.8%), compa...

Undiagnosed coeliac disease in a father does not influence birthweight and preterm birth

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Khashan AS, Kenny LC, McNamee R, Mortensen PB, Pedersen MG, McCarthy FP, Henriksen TB. Undiagnosed coeliac disease in a father does not influence birthweight and preterm birth. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. There is conflicting evidence regarding the effect of coeliac disease (CD) in the father on birthweight and preterm birth. We investigated the association between paternal CD and birthweight and preterm birth. Medical records of all singleton live-born children in Denmark between 1 January 1979 and 31 December 2004 were linked to information about parents' diseases. Fathers who were diagnosed with CD were then identified. Fathers with CD were considered treated if they were diagnosed before pregnancy and untreated if they were diagnosed after the date of conception. The ou...

Mortality rates of children aged under five in Henan province, China, 2004–2008

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Huo K, Zhao Y, Feng H, Yao M, Sävman K, Wang X, Zhu C. Mortality rates of children aged under five in Henan province, China, 2004[ndash]2008. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. To analyse the mortality rates, causes of death and trends over time in children aged under five years in Henan province and to provide preventive advice to attempt to decrease the mortality rates of these children, a retrospective study was conducted, analysing the vital statistics data from 2004 to 2008 from the annual report of maternal and child health in Henan. The early neonatal ( (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Non-stress-related factors associated with maternal corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) concentration

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Kramer MS, Lydon J, Séguin L, Goulet L, Kahn SR, McNamara H, Genest J, Sharma S, Meaney MJ, Libman M, Dahhou M, Platt RW. Non-stress-related factors associated with maternal corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) concentration. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. During pregnancy, most maternal corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) is secreted by the placenta, not the hypothalamus. Second trimester maternal CRH concentration is robustly associated with the subsequent risk of preterm birth, and it is often assumed that physiological and/or psychological stress stimulates placental CRH release. Evidence supporting the latter assumption is weak, however, and other factors affecting maternal CRH have received little attention from investigators. We carried out a case[ndash]control st...

Can recall of birth size be used as a measure of birthweight in Cameroon?

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Mbuagbaw L, Gofin R. Can recall of birth size be used as a measure of birthweight in Cameroon? Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. Birthweight is a key predictor of future life outcomes. When this information is not available we must rely on maternal recall of weight or size. We evaluated the use of maternal recall of size as an indicator for birthweight, using data from the 2004 Demographic and Health Survey in Cameroon. The overall agreement between recorded and recalled weight and subjective assessment of birth size was 90% (Kappa = 0.46). Concordant descriptions were associated with higher birthweights (P < 0.001), higher education (P = 0.008) and delivery in a health unit (P = 0.025). Specificity for low birthweight (92.9%) was much higher than sensitivity (59.9%) and the nega...

In this issue

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:41:04 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Reply from the author

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Possible explanation for the lower-than-expected preterm birth rate

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

Season of birth and diagnosis for childhood cancer in Northern England, 1968–2005

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100

This study confirms previous findings of seasonal variation around the month of birth for childhood ALL (at the peak ages) and provides further evidence of seasonal variation around month of birth for astrocytoma and around month of diagnosis for HL. The results are consistent with a role for environmental factors in the aetiology of these diagnostic groups. Further studies are needed to examine putative candidate agents. (Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology)

The utility of neonatal dried blood spots for the assessment of neonatal vitamin D status

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100

We examined 25OHD3 in 4-year-old frozen cord sera and matched DBS from neonates born at a hospital in Melbourne, Australia (n = 100). We examined the correlation between these values and also investigated whether the expected seasonal (winter/spring vs. summer/autumn) difference in serum 25OHD3 was reflected in DBS values. 25OHD3 was assayed in triplicate using tandem mass spectroscopy in both a 3 µL sample of cord serum and in matched 3 mm punches from archived DBS. 25OHD3 concentrations in neonatal cord serum and DBS were highly correlated (r = 0.85, P < 0.0001). As expected, serum 25OHD3 concentrations were higher in neonates born in summer/autumn (December to March) vs. winter/spring (April to November) (median 46.6 vs. 23.7 nmol/L, P < 0.0001). A comparable difference was seen in DBS...

Mothers' and fathers' birth characteristics and perinatal mortality in their offspring: a population-based cohort study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Nordtveit TI, Melve KK, Skjaerven R. Mothers' and fathers' birth characteristics and perinatal mortality in their offspring: a population-based cohort study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010; 24: 282[ndash]292. There is increasing interest in the associations between parental birthweight and gestational age with their perinatal outcomes. We investigated perinatal mortality risk in offspring in relation to maternal and paternal gestational age and birthweight. We used population-based generational data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, 1967[ndash]2006. Singletons in both generations were included, forming 520 794 mother[ndash]offspring and 376 924 father[ndash]offspring units. Perinatal mortality in offspring was not significantly associated with paternal gestational age ...

Maternal use of nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy and offspring birthweight: a study within the Danish National Birth Cohort

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Lassen TH, Madsen M, Skovgaard LT, Strandberg-Larsen K, Olsen J, Andersen A-MN. Maternal use of nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy and offspring birthweight: a study within the Danish National Birth Cohort. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010; 24: 272[ndash]281. Smoking is a well-established risk factor for fetal growth restriction and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, and nicotine may be one of the chemical compounds that drive these associations. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a smoking cessation aid, which can facilitate smoking cessation. It is, however, unknown whether NRT used during pregnancy impairs fetal growth. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between the use of NRT during pregnancy and offspring birthweight. The study population cons...