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Are infant size and growth related to burden of disease in adulthood? A systematic review of literature

Are infant size and growth related to burden of disease in adulthood? A systematic review of literature
Are infant size and growth related to burden of disease in adulthood? A systematic review of literature
Background: Slower rates of infant growth are associated with increased rates of death from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in later life. We carried out a systematic review to assess the association between infant size or growth and leading causes of adult burden of disease to contribute to the debate on the potential of the promotion of infant growth to prevent ischaemic heart disease.

Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and bibliographies of included studies. First authors of included studies and other experts were contacted to locate unpublished analyses. Outcome measures for the review were leading causes of adult burden of disease selected from the Global Burden of Disease study. We included studies that assessed the relationship between infant size or growth during the first 2 years and the leading causes of adult burden of disease.

Results: Nineteen studies relating to 10 causes of burden of disease met inclusion criteria. Most studies reported data on infant size. Larger size in infancy was associated with increased risk of insulin-dependent diabetes. Larger infant size was associated with reduced rates of IHD in men but not in women. There were considerable gaps in the evidence and many conditions that account for a high burden of disease, such as cancer, mental illness, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, had few or no studies associating them with infant size or growth.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there is no single optimal pattern of infant growth that is associated with beneficial adult health outcomes. There is insufficient evidence to recommend prevention of adult disease through strategies to alter infant growth.
infant, growth, adult, chronic disease
0300-5771
1196-1210
Fisher, David
70c3b550-a188-4e4d-87db-f6576acfaafe
Baird, Janis
f4bf2039-6118-436f-ab69-df8b4d17f824
Payne, Liz
862f8fcf-711d-4146-a723-a9109339c70a
Lucas, Patricia
19d5fc4a-f34a-4ba1-aa90-1dbfea3d4c7b
Kleijnen, Jos
e2b2f027-68de-4d5d-8575-c0704a63f9bc
Roberts, Helen
6150bc0b-3373-42fe-86e1-6f3bf2b96564
Law, Catherine
b90db04a-7a74-4211-8409-5aad234bca91
Fisher, David
70c3b550-a188-4e4d-87db-f6576acfaafe
Baird, Janis
f4bf2039-6118-436f-ab69-df8b4d17f824
Payne, Liz
862f8fcf-711d-4146-a723-a9109339c70a
Lucas, Patricia
19d5fc4a-f34a-4ba1-aa90-1dbfea3d4c7b
Kleijnen, Jos
e2b2f027-68de-4d5d-8575-c0704a63f9bc
Roberts, Helen
6150bc0b-3373-42fe-86e1-6f3bf2b96564
Law, Catherine
b90db04a-7a74-4211-8409-5aad234bca91

Fisher, David, Baird, Janis, Payne, Liz, Lucas, Patricia, Kleijnen, Jos, Roberts, Helen and Law, Catherine (2006) Are infant size and growth related to burden of disease in adulthood? A systematic review of literature. International Journal of Epidemiology, 35 (5), 1196-1210. (doi:10.1093/ije/dyl130). (PMID:16845132)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: Slower rates of infant growth are associated with increased rates of death from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in later life. We carried out a systematic review to assess the association between infant size or growth and leading causes of adult burden of disease to contribute to the debate on the potential of the promotion of infant growth to prevent ischaemic heart disease.

Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and bibliographies of included studies. First authors of included studies and other experts were contacted to locate unpublished analyses. Outcome measures for the review were leading causes of adult burden of disease selected from the Global Burden of Disease study. We included studies that assessed the relationship between infant size or growth during the first 2 years and the leading causes of adult burden of disease.

Results: Nineteen studies relating to 10 causes of burden of disease met inclusion criteria. Most studies reported data on infant size. Larger size in infancy was associated with increased risk of insulin-dependent diabetes. Larger infant size was associated with reduced rates of IHD in men but not in women. There were considerable gaps in the evidence and many conditions that account for a high burden of disease, such as cancer, mental illness, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, had few or no studies associating them with infant size or growth.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there is no single optimal pattern of infant growth that is associated with beneficial adult health outcomes. There is insufficient evidence to recommend prevention of adult disease through strategies to alter infant growth.

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More information

Published date: 2006
Keywords: infant, growth, adult, chronic disease

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 44164
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/44164
ISSN: 0300-5771
PURE UUID: 7f58db1c-f2a8-4e46-8ce5-82f8e2458209
ORCID for Janis Baird: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4039-4361
ORCID for Liz Payne: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6594-5668

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 16 Feb 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:29

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Contributors

Author: David Fisher
Author: Janis Baird ORCID iD
Author: Liz Payne ORCID iD
Author: Patricia Lucas
Author: Jos Kleijnen
Author: Helen Roberts
Author: Catherine Law

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