Weight in infancy and prevalence of coronary heart disease in adult life

Objective : To determine whether low birth weight and low weight at 1 year are followed by an increased prevalence of coronary heart disease in adult life. Design : A follow up study of men born during 1920–30 whose birth weights and weights at 1 year were recorded. Setting : Hertfordshire, England. Subjects : 290 men born and still living in East Hertfordshire. Main outcome measure : The prevalence of coronary heart disease, defined by the Rose/WHO chest pain questionnaire, standard electrocardiographic criteria, or history of coronary artery angioplasty or graft surgery. Results : 42 (14%) men had coronary heart disease. Their mean birth weight, 7.9 lb (3600 g), was the same as that of the other men. Their mean weight at 1 year, 21.8 lb (9.9 kg), was 1 lb (454 g) lower (95% confidence interval 0.1 to 1.8, P=0.02). Percentages of men with coronary heart disease fell from 27% in those who weighed 18 lb (8.2 kg) or less at 1 year to 9% in those who weighed more than 26 lb (11.8 kg) (P value for trend=0.03). This trend occurred in both smokers and non-smokers and within each social class. Conclusion : These findings add to the evidence that coronary heart disease is “programmed” during early growth. Key messages Key messages This is consistent with the association between low weight at 1 year and increased death rates from coronary heart disease The association between low weight at 1 year and coronary heart disease occurs in smokers and non-smokers and in each social class This adds to evidence that influences acting before 1 year of age have an important effect on the risk of developing coronary heart disease