Regional differences in birth size: a comparison between the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study and contemporaneous births on the Åland Islands

Samuel Sandboge, Johan Fellman, P. M. Nilsson, A. W. Eriksson, C. Osmond, J. G. Eriksson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Åland Islands were recently ranked as Finland’s healthiest region with lower prevalence of several non-communicable diseases compared with
the national mean. We have compared birth characteristics of 1697 individuals born on the Åland Islands between 1937 and 1944 with
contemporaneous data from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study (HBCS; n = 11,808). This is a first step towards a potential future analysis of
Ålandic health from a life-course perspective. Mean birth weight and length were calculated for both cohorts. Birth weight was entered into a
multiple linear regression model with sex, maternal age, marital status and birth year as predictors. Mean birth weight in the Åland cohort was
3499 g, 87 g (95% CI 62; 111) higher compared with the HBCS. Sex and maternal marital status were the strongest predictors of birth weight.
More detailed studies are needed to explore the potential effects of this difference in average birth weight between cohorts.
Original languageEnglish
Peer-reviewed scientific journalJournal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
Volume6
Pages (from-to)263-267
Number of pages5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18.02.2015
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article - refereed

Keywords

  • 314,2 Public health care science, environmental and occupational health
  • 112 Statistics and probability

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