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Weighting of risk factors for low birth weight: a linked routine data cohort study in Wales, UK

Amrita Bandyopadhyay Orcid Logo, Hope Jones Orcid Logo, Michael Parker, Emily Marchant Orcid Logo, Julie Evans, Charlotte Todd, Muhammad A Rahman, James Healy, Tint Lwin Win, Ben Rowe, Simon Moore Orcid Logo, Angela Jones, Sinead Brophy Orcid Logo, Amrita Bandyopadhyay, Hope Jones, Michael Parker Orcid Logo, James Healy, Tint Win

BMJ Open, Volume: 13, Issue: 2, Start page: e063836

Swansea University Authors: Emily Marchant Orcid Logo, Sinead Brophy Orcid Logo, Amrita Bandyopadhyay, Hope Jones, Michael Parker Orcid Logo, James Healy, Tint Win

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Abstract

Objective: Globally, 20 million children are born with a birth weight below 2500 g every year, which is considered as a low birthweight (LBW) baby. This study investigates the contribution of modifiable risk factors in a nationally representative Welsh e-cohort of children and their mothers to infor...

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Published in: BMJ Open
ISSN: 2044-6055 2044-6055
Published: BMJ 2023
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61656
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Abstract: Objective: Globally, 20 million children are born with a birth weight below 2500 g every year, which is considered as a low birthweight (LBW) baby. This study investigates the contribution of modifiable risk factors in a nationally representative Welsh e-cohort of children and their mothers to inform opportunities to reduce LBW prevalence. Design: A longitudinal cohort study based on anonymously linked, routinely collected multiple administrative data sets.Participants: The cohort, (N=693 377) comprising of children born between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2018 in Wales, was selected from the National Community Child Health Database.Outcome measures: The risk factors associated with a binary LBW (outcome) variable were investigated with multivariable logistic regression (MLR) and decision tree (DT) models.Results: The MLR model showed that non-singleton children had the highest risk of LBW (adjusted OR 21.74 (95% CI 21.09 to 22.40)), followed by pregnancy interval less than 1 year (2.92 (95% CI 2.70 to 3.15)), maternal physical and mental health conditions including diabetes (2.03 (1.81 to 2.28)), anaemia (1.26 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.36)), depression (1.58 (95% CI 1.43 to 1.75)), serious mental illness (1.46 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.05)), anxiety (1.22 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.38)) and use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy (1.92 (95% CI 1.20 to 3.07)). Additional maternal risk factors include smoking (1.80 (95% CI 1.76 to 1.84)), alcohol-related hospital admission (1.60 (95% CI 1.30 to 1.97)), substance misuse (1.35 (95% CI 1.29 to 1.41)) and evidence of domestic abuse (1.98 (95% CI 1.39 to 2.81)). Living in less deprived area has lower risk of LBW (0.70 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.72)). The most important risk factors from the DT models include maternal factors such as smoking, maternal weight, substance misuse record, maternal age along with deprivation—Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation score, pregnancy interval and birth order of the child.Conclusion: Resources to reduce the prevalence of LBW should focus on improving maternal health, reducing preterm births, increasing awareness of what is a sufficient pregnancy interval, and to provide adequate support for mothers’ mental health and well-being.
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: Economic and Social Research Council - ES/S007393/1; Nation Institute for Health Research (NIHR) - NIHR133680; Public Health Wales - 105186
Issue: 2
Start Page: e063836