Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Birth weight and quality of life in midlife: a 50-year follow-up study of 2079 individuals in Denmark

  • Published:
Quality of Life Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barker, D. J. P. (1998). Mothers, babies and health in later life (2nd ed.). London: Churchill Livingstone.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dodds, R., Denison, H. J., Ntani, G., Cooper, R., Cooper, C., Sayer, A. A., et al. (2012). Birth weight and muscle strength: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging,16(7), 609–615.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Druet, C., Stettler, N., Sharp, S., Simmons, R. K., Cooper, C., Smith, G. D., et al. (2012). Prediction of childhood obesity by infancy weight gain: an individual-level meta-analysis. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology,26(1), 19–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Flensborg-Madsen, T., & Mortensen, E. L. (2017). Birth weight and intelligence in young adulthood and midlife. Pediatrics,139(6), e20163161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Shenkin, S. D., Starr, J. M., & Deary, I. J. (2004). Birth weight and cognitive ability in childhood: A systematic review. Psychological Bulletin,130(6), 989–1013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Whincup, P. H., Kaye, S. J., Owen, C. G., Huxley, R., Cook, D. G., Anazawa, S., et al. (2008). Birth weight and risk of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review. JAMA,300(24), 2886–2897.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bain, G. H., Lemmon, H., Teunisse, S., Starr, J. M., Fox, H. C., Deary, I. J., et al. (2003). Quality of Life in healthy old age: relationships with childhood IQ, minor psychological symptoms and optimism. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology,38(11), 632–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Fusco, O., Ferrini, A., Santoro, M., Lo Monaco, M. R., Gambassi, G., & Cesari, M. (2012). Physical function and perceived quality of life in older persons. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research,24(1), 68–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Saboya, P. P., Bodanese, L. C., Zimmermann, P. R., Gustavo, A. D. S., Assumpção, C. M., & Londero, F. (2016). Metabolic syndrome and quality of life: A systematic review. Revista Latino-Americana Enfermagem,24, e2848.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Taylor, V. H., Forhan, M., Vigod, S. N., McIntyre, R. S., & Morrison, K. M. (2013). The impact of obesity on quality of life. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism,27(2), 139–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Xie, J., Wu, E. Q., Zheng, Z.-J., Sullivan, P. W., Zhan, L., & Labarthe, D. R. (2008). Patient-reported health status in coronary heart disease in the United States: Age, sex, racial, and ethnic differences. Circulation,118(5), 491–497.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Strauss, R. S. (2000). Adult functional outcome of those born small for gestational age: Twenty-six–year follow-up of the 1970 British birth cohort. JAMA,283(5), 625–632.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Zwicker, J. G., & Harris, S. R. (2008). Quality of life of formerly preterm and very low birth weight infants from preschool age to adulthood: A systematic review. Pediatrics,121(2), e366–e376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Husby, I. M., Stray, K. M.-T., Olsen, A., Lydersen, S., Indredavik, M. S., Brubakk, A.-M., et al. (2016). Long-term follow-up of mental health, health-related quality of life and associations with motor skills in young adults born preterm with very low birth weight. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes,14(1), 56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Lund, L. K., Vik, T., Lydersen, S., Løhaugen, G. C. C., Skranes, J., Brubakk, A.-M., et al. (2012). Mental health, quality of life and social relations in young adults born with low birth weight. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes,10(1), 146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Methúsalemsdóttir, H. F., Egilson, S. Þ., Guðmundsdóttir, R., Valdimarsdóttir, U. A., & Georgsdóttir, I. (2013). Quality of life of adolescents born with extremely low birth weight. Acta Paediatrica,102(6), 597–601.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Palta, M., & Sadek-Badawi, M. (2008). PedsQL relates to function and behavior in very low and normal birth weight 2- and 3-year-olds from a regional cohort. Quality of Life Research,17(5), 691–700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Saigal, S., Ferro, M. A., Van Lieshout, R. J., Schmidt, L. A., Morrison, K. M., & Boyle, M. H. (2016). Health-related quality of life trajectories of extremely low birth weight survivors into adulthood. Journal of Pediatrics,179, 68–73.e1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Odberg, M. D., & Elgen, I. B. (2011). Low birth weight young adults: quality of life, academic achievements and social functioning. Acta Paediatrica,100(2), 284–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Spence, D., Alderdice, F. A., Stewart, M. C., Halliday, H. L., & Bell, A. H. (2007). Does intrauterine growth restriction affect quality of life in adulthood? Archives of Disease in Childhood,92(8), 700–703.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Mortensen, E. L. (1997). The copenhagen perinatal cohort and the prenatal development project. The International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine,10(3), 199–202.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lund, R., Mortensen, E. L., Christensen, U., Bruunsgaard, H., Holm-Pedersen, P., Fiehn, N.-E., et al. (2016). Cohort Profile: The Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank (CAMB). International Journal of Epidemiology,45(4), 1044–1053.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment,49(1), 71–75.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (2009). Review of the satisfaction with life scale. In: Diener, E. (ed). Assessing well-being: The collected works of Ed Diener (1st ed.). Dordrecht: Springer Science & Business Media, p. 101–117.

  25. Ware, J. E., & Sherbourne, C. D. (1992). The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36): I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Medical Care,30(6), 473–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Bjorner, J. B., Damsgaard, M. T., Watt, T., Bech, P., Rasmussen, N. K., Kristensen, T. S., et al. (1997). Dansk manual til SF-36. Copenhagen: Lif.

  27. Bjorner, J. B., Damsgaard, M. T., Watt, T., & Groenvold, M. (1998). Tests of data quality, scaling assumptions, and reliability of the Danish SF-36. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology,51(11), 1001–1011.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Bjorner, J. B., Thunedborg, K., Kristensen, T. S., Modvig, J., & Bech, P. (1998). The Danish SF-36 health survey: Translation and preliminary validity studies. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology,51(11), 991–999.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Ventegodt, S., Henneberg, E., Merrick, J., & Lindholt, J. S. (2003). Validation of two global and generic quality of life questionnaires for population screening: SCREENQOL and SEQOL. The Scientific World Journal,3(19), 412–421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Zachau-Christiansen, B. (1972). The influence of prenatal and perinatal factors on development during the first year of life with special reference to the development of signs of cerebral dysfunction. A prospective study of 9006 pregnancies. Helsingør: Poul A. Andersens Forlag.

  31. Christensen, D. S., Flensborg-Madsen, T., Garde, E., Hansen, Å. M., Masters Pedersen, J., & Mortensen, E. L. (2018). Early life predictors of midlife allostatic load: A prospective cohort study. PLoS ONE,13(8), e0202395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Bell, K., Corbacho, B., Ronaldson, S., Richardson, G., Torgerson, D., Robling, M., et al. (2018). The impact of pre and perinatal lifestyle factors on child long term health and social outcomes: a systematic review. Health Economics Review,8(1), 2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Breeze, E., Jones, D. A., Wilkinson, P., Bulpitt, C. J., Grundy, C., Latif, A. M., et al. (2005). Area deprivation, social class, and quality of life among people aged 75 years and over in Britain. International Journal of Epidemiology,34(2), 276–283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Hegelund, E. R., Folker, A. P., Wimmelmann, C. L., Just-Østergaard, E., Mortensen, E. L., & Flensborg-Madsen, T. (2019). Infant socioeconomic position and quality of life in midlife: A 50-year follow-up study of 2079 individuals in Denmark. Applied Research in Quality of Life. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-019-9709-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

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.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, P.O. Box 2099, 1014, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    Emilie Rune Hegelund, Cathrine Lawaetz Wimmelmann, Jenna Marie Strizzi, Erik Lykke Mortensen & Trine Flensborg-Madsen

  2. National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Studiestræde 6, 1455, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    Anna Paldam Folker

  3. Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark

    Cathrine Lawaetz Wimmelmann, Erik Lykke Mortensen & Trine Flensborg-Madsen

Authors
  1. Emilie Rune Hegelund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cathrine Lawaetz Wimmelmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jenna Marie Strizzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anna Paldam Folker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Erik Lykke Mortensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Trine Flensborg-Madsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emilie Rune Hegelund.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

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.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (PDF 24 kb)

Supplementary material 2 (PDF 603 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

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

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02348-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation