Depressive symptoms during pregnancy and low birth weight at term

AbstractHypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) may increase the risk of offspring depression in childhood. Low birth weight is also associated with increased risk of mental health problems, including depression. This study sought to investigate (a) whether there is an association between HDP and the risk of depression in childhood and (b) whether low birth weight mediates this association. The current study is based on the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a prospective, population-based study that has followed a cohort of offspring since their mothers were pregnant (n = 6,739). Depression at the age of 7 years was diagnosed using parent reports via the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA). Log-binomial regression and mediation analyses were used. Children exposed to HDP were 2.3 times more likely to have a depression diagnosis compared with nonexposed children, adjusted Risk Ratio [RR], 2.31; 95% CI, [1.20, 4.47]. Low birth weight was a weak mediator of this association. Results were adjusted for confounding variables including antenatal depression and anxiety during pregnancy.This study suggests that fetal exposure to maternal hypertensive disorders of pregnancy increased the risk of childhood depression. The study adds to the evidence suggesting that the uterine environment is a critical determinant of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric outcomes.

Download Full-text

Trimester effects of source-specific PM10 on birth weight outcomes in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

Environmental Health ◽

10.1186/s12940-020-00684-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yingxin Chen ◽

Susan Hodgson ◽

John Gulliver ◽

Raquel Granell ◽

A. John Henderson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Regression Models ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Exposure Misclassification ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Residential History ◽

The Third ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) is associated with reduced birth weight, but information is limited on the sources of PM10 and exposure misclassification from assigning exposures to place of residence at birth. Methods Trimester and source-specific PM10 exposures (PM10 from road source, local non-road source, and total source) in pregnancy were estimated using dispersion models and a full maternal residential history for 12,020 births from the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children (ALSPAC) cohort in 1990–1992 in the Bristol area. Information on birth outcomes were obtained from birth records. Maternal sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were obtained from questionnaires. We used linear regression models for continuous outcomes (birth weight, head circumference (HC), and birth length (BL) and logistic regression models for binary outcomes (preterm birth (PTB), term low birth weight (TLBW) and small for gestational age (SGA)). Sensitivity analysis was performed using multiple imputation for missing covariate data. Results After adjustment, interquartile range increases in source specific PM10 from traffic were associated with 17 to 18% increased odds of TLBW in all pregnancy periods. We also found odds of TLBW increased by 40% (OR: 1.40, 95%CI: 1.12, 1.75) and odds of SGA increased by 18% (OR: 1.18, 95%CI: 1.05, 1.32) per IQR (6.54 μg/m3) increase of total PM10 exposure in the third trimester. Conclusion This study adds to evidence that maternal PM10 exposures affect birth weight, with particular concern in relation to exposures to PM10 from road transport sources; results for total PM10 suggest greatest effect in the third trimester. Effect size estimates relate to exposures in the 1990s and are higher than those for recent studies – this may relate to reduced exposure misclassification through use of full residential history information, changes in air pollution toxicity over time and/or residual confounding.

Download Full-text

Maternal and paternal depression and child mental health trajectories: evidence from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.959 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Priya Rajyaguru ◽

Alex S. F. Kwong ◽

Elizabeth Braithwaite ◽

Rebecca M. Pearson

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Antenatal Depression ◽

Depressive Mood ◽

Full Data ◽

Linear Change ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

Background The relationships between offspring depression profiles across adolescence and different timings of parental depression during the perinatal period remain unknown. Aims To explore different timings of maternal and paternal perinatal depression in relation to patterns of change in offspring depressive mood over a 14 year period. Method Data were obtained from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Parental antenatal depression (ANTD) was assessed at 18 weeks gestation, and postnatal depression (PNTD) at 8 weeks postpartum. Population-averaged trajectories of offspring depressive symptoms were estimated using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) on nine occasions between 10 and 24 years of age. Results Full data were available for 5029 individuals. Offspring exposed to both timings of maternal depression had higher depressive symptoms across adolescence compared with offspring not exposed to ANTD or PNTD, characterised by higher depressive symptoms at age 16 (7.07 SMFQ points (95% CI = 6.19, 7.95; P < 0.001)) and a greater rate of linear change (0.698 SMFQ points (95% CI = 0.47, 0.93; P = 0.002)). Isolated maternal ANTD and to a lesser extent PNTD were also both associated with higher depressive symptoms at age 16, yet isolated maternal PNTD showed greater evidence for an increased rate of linear change across adolescence. A similar pattern was observed for paternal ANTD and PNTD, although effect sizes were attenuated. Conclusions This study adds to the literature demonstrating that exposure to two timings of maternal depression (ANTD and PNTD) is strongly associated with greater offspring trajectories of depressive symptoms.

Download Full-text

Diet quality before or during pregnancy and the relationship with pregnancy and birth outcomes: the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980016001245 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (16) ◽

pp. 2975-2983 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Ellie Gresham ◽

Clare E Collins ◽

Gita D Mishra ◽

Julie E Byles ◽

Alexis J Hure

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Women's Health ◽

Birth Outcomes ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Gestational Hypertension ◽

Australian Longitudinal Study ◽

Pregnancy And Birth Outcomes ◽

Pregnancy And Birth

AbstractObjectiveTo assess whether diet quality before or during pregnancy predicts adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes in a sample of Australian women.DesignThe Dietary Questionnaire for Epidemiological Studies was used to calculate diet quality using the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) methodology modified for pregnancy.SettingA population-based cohort participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH).SubjectsA national sample of Australian women, aged 20–25 and 31–36 years, who were classified as preconception or pregnant when completing Survey 3 or Survey 5 of the ALSWH, respectively. The 1907 women with biologically plausible energy intake estimates were included in regression analyses of associations between preconception and pregnancy ARFS and subsequent pregnancy outcomes.ResultsPreconception and pregnancy groups were combined as no significant differences were detected for total and component ARFS. Women with gestational hypertension, compared with those without, had lower scores for total ARFS, vegetable, fruit, grain and nuts/bean/soya components. Women with gestational diabetes had a higher score for the vegetable component only, and women who had a low-birth-weight infant had lower scores for total ARFS and the grain component, compared with those who did not report these outcomes. Women with the highest ARFS had the lowest odds of developing gestational hypertension (OR=0·4; 95 % CI 0·2, 0·7) or delivering a child of low birth weight (OR=0·4; 95 % CI 0·2, 0·9), which remained significant for gestational hypertension after adjustment for potential confounders.ConclusionsA high-quality diet before and during pregnancy may reduce the risk of gestational hypertension for the mother.

Download Full-text

Does birth weight predict childhood diet in the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children?

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech.2005.034413 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 59 (11) ◽

pp. 955-960 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

W A Shultis

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Childhood Diet ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

Download Full-text

Birth weight and cardiac function assessed by echocardiography in adolescence: Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1002/uog.20128 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 225-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

S. Timpka ◽

A. D. Hughes ◽

N. Chaturvedi ◽

P. W. Franks ◽

D. A. Lawlor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Cardiac Function ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

Download Full-text

Examining the longitudinal nature of depressive symptoms in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15395.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 126

Author(s):

Alex S. F. Kwong

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Later Life ◽

Depressive Mood ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Late Childhood ◽

Early Life Exposure ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

Depression during adolescence is associated with a number of negative outcomes in later life. Research has examined the longitudinal nature of adolescent depression in order to identify patterns of depressive mood, the early antecedents and later consequences. However, rich longitudinal data is needed to better address these questions. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is an intergenerational birth cohort with nine repeated assessments of depressive symptoms throughout late childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Many studies have used ALSPAC to examine the longitudinal nature of depressive symptoms in combination with the wealth of early life exposure and later outcome data. This data note provides a summary of the SMFQ data, where the data are stored in ALSPAC, the characteristics and distribution of the SMFQ, and highlights some considerations for researchers wanting to use the SMFQ data in ALSPAC.

Download Full-text

Identifying Critical Points of Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms From Childhood to Young Adulthood: Evidence of Sex Differences from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

10.1101/193680 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Alex S. F. Kwong ◽

David Manley ◽

Nicholas J. Timpson ◽

Rebecca M. Pearson ◽

Jon Heron ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Growth Curve ◽

Critical Points ◽

Peak Velocity ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Growth Curve Models ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study ◽

Multilevel Growth Curve Models

AbstractDepression is a common mental illness associated with increased substance misuse and risk of suicide. Potential risk factors for depression include sex and depressive symptoms in early life, however the mechanisms responsible are not yet understood. Research has focused on late childhood and adolescence as this developmental period may be a modifiable risk factor that prevents or reduces depression at a later stage. It is also important to establish at what ages the level of depression is changing as this will help identify critical points to intervene with treatment. We used multilevel growth-curve models to explore adolescent trajectories of depressive symptoms in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a UK based pregnancy cohort. Using data from 9301 individuals, trajectories of depressive symptoms were constructed for males and females between 10.6 and 22.8 years old. We calculated the age of peak velocity for depressive symptoms (the age at which depressive symptoms increases most rapidly) and the age of maximum depressive symptoms. Adjusted results suggested that being female was associated with a steeper trajectory compared to being male (per 1 year increase in relation to depressive symptoms: 0.128, SE = 0.035, [95% CI: 0.059, 0.198]; p <0.001). We found evidence suggesting that females had an earlier age of peak velocity of depressive symptoms (females 13.7 years old, SE = 0.321, [95% CI: 12.9, 14.4] and males 16.4 years old, SE = 0.096, [95% CI: 16.2, 16.6]; p <0.001), but weak evidence of an earlier age of maximum depressive symptoms (p = 0.125). Possible mechanisms that underlie this sex difference include the roles of pubertal development and timing. Using multilevel growth curve models to estimate the age of peak velocity and maximum depressive symptoms for different population subgroups may provide useful knowledge for treating and preventing later depression.

Download Full-text

Examining the longitudinal nature of depressive symptoms in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15395.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 126

Author(s):

Alex S. F. Kwong

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Later Life ◽

Depressive Mood ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Late Childhood ◽

Early Life Exposure ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

Depression during adolescence is associated with a number of negative outcomes in later life. Research has examined the longitudinal nature of adolescent depression in order to identify patterns of depressive mood, the early antecedents and later consequences. However, rich longitudinal data is needed to better address these questions. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is an intergenerational birth cohort with nine repeated assessments of depressive symptoms throughout late childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Many studies have used ALSPAC to examine the longitudinal nature of depressive symptoms in combination with the wealth of early life exposure and later outcome data. This data note provides a summary of the SMFQ data, where the data are stored in ALSPAC, the characteristics and distribution of the SMFQ, and highlights some considerations for researchers wanting to use the SMFQ data in ALSPAC.

Download Full-text