Childhood growth, development and later-life health

Question 1

What does the life course approach in epidemiology investigate?

Answer 1

long-term effects on chronic disease risk and ageing of physical and social hazards during gestation, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and later adult life

Question 2

What is a proxy marker of fetal growth/nutrition?

Answer 2

birth weight

Question 3

From some studies on birth weight, what does lower weight increase?

Answer 3

• risk of IHD (ishaemic heart disease)

- poorer grip strength

Question 4

From some studies on birth weight, what does higher weight increase?

Answer 4

• risk of breast cancer

- u-shaped relationship with diabetes esp. in populations with high level obesity and gestational diabetes

Question 5

From studies on growth and CVD risk factors, a high SBP (systolic blood pressure) in adult life was associated with?

Answer 5

• low birth weight and in infancy
• short height from childhood onwards
• rapid weight gain in adolescence

Question 6

From studies on growth and CVD risk factors, poor lipid profile in adult life was associated with?

Answer 6

• short height from infancy onwards

- rapid weight gain in late adolescence

Question 7

From studies JECH, in looking at height growth and lipids, what is the association of shorter height and leg length at 2 years?

Answer 7

• higher cholesterol at 53 years

Question 8

What was the result of comparing children overweight with chronic kidney disease?

Answer 8

all associated with greater chronic kidney disease at 60-64years

Question 9

What is the effect of early menarche in girls?

Answer 9

• shorter adult height
• greater adiposity
• taller and heavier in childhood though

Question 10

What is the effect of earlier puberty in boys associated with?

Answer 10

• shorter leg length, higher BMI

- greater lean mass and android fat mass

Question 11

From the UK biobank, the early age of puberty had related adverse health outcomes such as higher risks in?

Answer 11

• cancer
• cardiometabolic
• gynaecological/obstetric
• gastrointestinal
• musculoskeletal
• neuro-cognitive outcomes
• angina
• hypertension
• TD2

Question 12

What was the effect of later puberty in older people?

Answer 12

• associated with lower bone mineral density

Question 13

What was the effect of later ages of walking on bone health?

Answer 13

• lower bone mineral content in men BUT NOT WOMEN

- hip shapes and increased fracture risk

Question 14

What was the effect of lower childhood cognitive ability associated to at older years?

Answer 14

• poorer balance

- earlier natural menopause