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 horn 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.