The association of low birth weight with serum C reactive protein in 3‐year‐old children living in Cuba: A population‐based prospective study

Abstract

ObjectiveLow birthweight is associated with a decreased risk of childhood leukemia and an increased risk of both cardiovascular disease and all‐cause mortality in adult life. Possible biological mediators include systemic innate immunity and inflammation. We tested the hypothesis that birthweight was inversely associated with serum high sensitivity C reactive protein assay (hsCRP), a measure of both innate immunity and systemic inflammation.MethodsData on birthweight and current anthropometric measures along with a range of exposures were collected at 1 and 3 years of age in a population‐based cohort study of young children living in Havana, Cuba. A total of 986 children aged 3‐years‐old provided blood samples that were analyzed for serum hsCRP levels.ResultsNearly 49% of children had detectable hsCRP levels in their serum. Lower birthweight was linearly associated with the natural log of hsCRP levels (beta coefficient −0.70 mg L−1 per kg increase in birthweight, 95% CI: −1.34 to −0.06). This was attenuated but still present after adjustment for the child's sex and municipality (−0.65 mg L−1 per kg birthweight; 95% CI: −1.38 to +0.08). There were no associations between growth from birth or anthropometric measures at 3 years and systemic inflammation.ConclusionsBirthweight was inversely associated with serum hsCRP levels in children aged 3 years living in Cuba. These observations provide a potential mechanism that is present at the age of 3 years to explain the association between low birthweight and both decreased childhood leukemia and increased cardiovascular disease in adults.

Lower birth weight is linked to poorer cardiovascular health in middle-aged population-based adults

“…22 We identified a significant mediating effect from higher CRP levels. Previous work has demonstrated inverse association of birth weight and serum CRP in both children 23 and adults. 24 Our study is the first to formally demonstrate the potential role of systemic inflammation in mediating the relationships between birth weight and AMI.…”

Prevalence and risk factors for wheeze, decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 s and bronchoconstriction in young children living in Havana, Cuba: a population-based cohort study

“…At each annual follow-up study the participants’ guardians were asked if the child had received a medical diagnosis of dengue infection in the previous year (in Cuba all positive diagnoses of dengue infection are clinically confirmed using a serological IgM assay) and a blood sample was collected from children to measure circulating eosinophil levels. This sample was stored at −20°C and subsequently defrosted and analysed for dengue IgG serology to generate an antibody index,19 serum IgE,17 highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP, SpinReact, Spain),20 toxoplasmosis IgG antibodies21 and toxocariasis IgG antibodies (DRG Instruments, Germany). A faecal sample was also collected at each review and stored at −20°C, and later examined for H. pylori using the faecal antigen test (SpinReact, Spain) and intestinal parasites using the Kato-Katz test (Campiñas Medical COMI, Brazil).…”

The association between dengue immunoglobulin G titres with previous clinical dengue infection and white cell counts in Cuban children: A population-based study

“…A blood sample was collected from children who had no current symptoms of viral infection and this was stored in a freezer at -20 degrees Centigrade. This was subsequently defrosted and analysed for dengue immunoglobulin G (IgG) serology using the Vircell assay to generate an antibody index [11], serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) [12], highly sensitive C- Reactive Protein (hsCRP) [13]. A full blood count allowed the haemoglobin level and circulating white cell count to be measured.…”