Low Birth Weight Is Linked to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Results From the Population-Based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS)

Abstract

PURPOSE. This study analyzed whether low birth weight is linked to prevalence and incidence of age-related maculopathy (AMD) in adulthood. METHODS. The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based, observational cohort study in Germany. GHS participants at an age from 35 to 74 years were included. An ophthalmologic examination with fundus photography was carried out. Fundus photographs were graded according to the Rotterdam Grading Scheme for AMD at baseline and at the 5year follow-up examination. Participants were divided into three different birth weight groups (low: <2500 g; normal: 2500-4000 g; and high: >4000 g). Poisson regression analysis with adjustment for several confounders was used to assess associations between birth weight and AMD prevalence (overall, early, late AMD) and 5-year cumulative incidence. RESULTS. Overall, 6492 participants were included (3538 female, aged 50.7 6 10.4 years). Prevalence of total AMD was highest in the low birth weight group (11.2%; 40/358) compared to the normal birth weight group (6.5%; 346/5328) and the high birth weight group (8.4%; 68/806). Low birth weight was associated with overall AMD prevalence (prevalence ratio [PR] ¼ 1.54, P ¼ 0.006), and in particular with early AMD prevalence (PR ¼ 1.52; P ¼ 0.01). No association was observed between low birth weight and cumulative 5-year incidence of AMD. CONCLUSIONS. Our analyses indicate that low birth weight may lead to higher prevalence of retinal diseases in later life, as we observed for AMD. Our results are limited due to missing data and loss to follow-up, but may be a first hint that AMD has one of its origins in early life.

Association of Birth Weight with Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Adulthood—Results from a Population-Based Study

“…The participants were asked to review their records or family albums for documented birth weights; based on this information, they were divided into the following birth weight groups: group 1, low birth weight (<2500 g); group 2, normal birth weight (2500-4000 g); and group 3, high birth weight (>4000 g), as reported earlier. [16][17][18][19] Additionally, participants with birth weights below 1000 g and above 6000 g were excluded, as these self-reported data were suspected to be unreliable.…”

Features of Retinal Neurogenesis as a Key Factor of Age-Related Neurodegeneration: Myth or Reality?

“…Even though little research has been directly focused on the possibility that preterm survivors experience accelerated biological aging, recent studies indicate that the risk of AMD can be affected by the factors acting at an early age: during the final stages of postnatal retinal maturation. Such risk factors include high, low or extremely low birth weight [40][41][42], and the formation of aberrant neural circuits under the influence of genetic and/or environmental factors. Given the increased rates and early emergence of chronic illnesses observed in the individuals born with extremely low birth weight, the latter may confer a premature-aging phenotype characterized by accelerated cellular senescence and the development of diseases typically associated old age [136] .…”

“…Newborns with low (<2500 g [40]) and high (>4000 g [41,42]) birth weight are at a higher AMD risk in adulthood, as compared to normal-birth-weight newborns. It has been proposed that low and high body weights reflect an impairment of fetal development and a higher risk of eye diseases in adulthood.…”

Birth Weight and Diabetic Retinopathy: Results From the Population-Based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS)

“…All individuals were requested at study invitation to look up personal records or family albums for documented birth weight data. Subjects were categorized in accordance to self-reported birth weight information in group #1 with birth weight below 2,500 g (low), in group #2 with birth weight between 2,500 g and 4,000 g (normal), and in group #3 with birth weight above 4,000 g (high) as reported earlier 8,[15][16][17][18] . We excluded participants with birth weight < 1,000 g and > 6000 g, as these data were suspected to be invalid.…”