Cohort profile: the Ewha Birth and Growth Study

Abstract

With the introduction of life-course epidemiology, researchers realized the importance of identifying risk factors in early life to prevent chronic diseases. This led to the establishment of the Ewha Birth and Growth Study in 2001; the study is a prospective birth cohort designed to provide evidence of early life risk factors for a child’s growth and health. Participants were recruited from those who visited Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital (a tertiary hospital in southwest Seoul, Korea) for prenatal care at 24-28 weeks of gestation. In total, 891 mothers enrolled in this study between 2001 and 2006 and their offspring (n=940) were followed-up. Regular check-up examinations of offspring were conducted at 3 years, 5 years, and 7 years of age and every year thereafter. To consider age-related health issues, extensive data were collected using questionnaires and measurements. In 2021, the study subjects will reach 19 years of age, and we are planning a check-up examination for early adulthood. About 20 years have passed since the cohort data were collected, and we have published results on childhood health outcomes associated with prenatal and birth characteristics, genetic and epigenetic characteristics related to childhood metabolism, the effects of exposure to endocrine disruptors, and dietary patterns in childhood. Recently, we started reporting on topics related to adolescent health. The findings will facilitate identification of early life risk factors for chronic diseases and the development of interventions for diseases later in life.

The Effect of Childhood Obesity or Sarcopenic Obesity on Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Adolescence: The Ewha Birth and Growth Study

“…The study participants were sampled from the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort Study, an ongoing birth cohort established at Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, between 2001 and 2006. The details of this cohort have been reported elsewhere [ 20 ]. Regular check-ups were conducted at 3, 5, and 7 years of age and annually thereafter.…”

“…The PsiMS is a modified continuous MetS score for use in obese adolescents based on the original SIMS score [ 20 ]. It was calculated using the following formula: (2 × (waist/height (cm))) + (FBG (mg/dL)/100) + (TG (mg/dL)/150) + (Systolic BP (mmHg)/130) − (HDL-C (mg/dL)/40) [ 17 ].…”

The Mediating Effect of Inflammation between the Dietary and Health-Related Behaviors and Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescence

“…This study was conducted on the prospective cohort of the Ewha Birth and Growth Study, which enrolled mothers at 24–28 weeks of pregnancy from 2001 to 2006 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital (Seoul, Korea). Since 2005, 940 children of these women who agreed to participate in the study have been followed annually [ 16 ]. At each follow-up examinations, blood and urine samples collection after fasting for at least 8 h, anthropometric measurements, and questionnaires were performed.…”

Association of participation in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 with mental disorders and suicidal behaviour

“…The mothers filled multiple follow-up questionnaires and the children have had check-up examinations during childhood and adolescence. [4] In the Canadian largest general population-based longitudinal The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study originally 3624 pregnant women, most partners and 3542 eligible offspring were recruited in 2008-2012. The mothers, partners and children's have since been followed up with questionnaires, clinical examinations and blood samples.…”

“…There are also many newer longitudinal follow-up birth cohorts; for example, the Korean Ewha Birth and Growth Study recruited 891 pregnant female in 2001 in Seoul. The mothers completed multiple follow-up questionnaires and the children had check-up examinations during childhood and adolescence [ 4 ]. In the largest Canadian general population-based longitudinal study, the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development study, 3,624 pregnant female, most of their partners, and 3,542 eligible offspring were originally recruited in 2008-2012.…”