Birth weight and birth length affect future fracture risk differently in men and women
Authors' conclusion
In this study, being born shorter and lighter was associated with a lower risk for fractures ≥ 50 years in women.
Study context
- Population
- Participants born 1921–1950 with registry-based data on birth anthropometry and adult fractures (≥ 50 years)mean follow-up 26 years
- Participants
- 4,635 participants
- Exposure
- Birth anthropometry and developmental mismatch vs adult fracture risk
- Womenn = 476
- Menn = 4,159
- Outcome
- Adult fracture (≥ 50 years)
Methodological detailshospital and national registry-based data, Cox proportional hazards regression
- Hospital and national registry-based data
- Cox proportional hazards regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Adult fracture risk by birth anthropometry
WomenEstimate (95% CI)
Not significant after adjustment
HR per kg birth weight (unadjusted) 1.42(1.10–1.84)
Adult fracture risk by birth anthropometry
HR per cm birth length (unadjusted) 1.10(1.05–1.17)
Adult fracture risk by birth anthropometry
HR per cm birth length (adjusted for year of birth and gestational age) 1.10(1.04–1.17)
- ≥ 1 fracture, overall
- 1215 (26%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Born tall and staying tall vs born short and remaining short
| HR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| WomenTall-tallvs short-short | 2.09 (1.18–3.68) | |
| MenTall-tallvs short-short | 1.55 (1.19–2.03) | |
| 0.20.5125Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Developmental mismatch (lower birth weight followed by higher adult weight)
- No association with adult fracture risk
Original publication
Birth weight and birth length affect future fracture risk differently in men and women. Osteoporos Int. Published 5 July 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →