Abstract
Purpose
Low birth weight has been associated with a higher risk of reduced quality of life (QoL) in children, adolescents, and young adults, but the influence seems to diminish over time. However, previous studies have mainly focused on health-related QoL and compared individuals with low birth weight with individuals without low birth weight. The purpose of the present cohort study was to investigate the influence of the entire range of birth weights on three distinct measures of QoL in midlife.
Methods
The study population consisted of all live-born singletons from the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort (CPC, 1959–1961) who participated in a 50-year follow-up examination in 2009–2011 (N = 2079). Birth weight was measured by three pediatricians at birth. QoL was measured at the follow-up by the participants’ scores on three QoL self-report measures: The Satisfaction With Life Scale, the Vitality Scale of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and a single-item QoL measure based on the question: “How is your quality of life at the moment?”. General linear regression and binary logistic regression were used to estimate the association between birth weight and QoL in midlife.
Results
Small, curvilinear associations of birth weight with life satisfaction, vitality, and the single-item QoL measure were found, suggesting that both low and high birth weights increase the risk of low satisfaction with life, low vitality and low QoL.
Conclusion
The study findings suggest that low and high-range birth weight exert a lasting influence on distinct, but complementary aspects of QoL in midlife.
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Acknowledgements
We thank A. L. Villumsen and B. Zachau-Christiansen for their role in the establishment of the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort and we thank the steering committee for permission to conduct this study. The Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank was funded by generous grants from the VELUX FOUNDATION (VELUX 26145 and 31539). This manuscript was prepared in collaboration with members of the CAMB steering committee. The list of the CAMB steering committee and those responsible for the collection of historical data can be found at http://www.camb.ku.dk/.
Funding
This study was funded by a grant from IMK Almene Fond to Trine Flensborg-Madsen.
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According to Danish legislation, no ethics approval is needed for the present study. The study is covered by permissions from the Danish Data Protection Agency to the authors.
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Hegelund, E.R., Wimmelmann, C.L., Strizzi, J.M. et al. Birth weight and quality of life in midlife: a 50-year follow-up study of 2079 individuals in Denmark. Qual Life Res 29, 1047–1054 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02348-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02348-w