Population-Based Birth Cohort Studies in Epidemiology

Birth cohort studies are the most appropriate type of design to determine the causal relationship between potential risk factors during the prenatal or postnatal period and the health status of the newborn up to childhood and potentially adulthood. To date, there has been a growth in interest regarding observational population-based studies which are performed to provide answers to specific research questions for defined populations, for instance, assessing the exposure to environmental pollutants or drugs on the risk of developing a disease. Birth cohorts based on the recruitment and active follow-up of mothers and children allow the collection of biological material, and specific clinical and genetic information. However, they require a considerable amount of time and resources and, besides being usually of limited size, they are exposed to the risk of the loss of subjects to follow-up, with decreased statistical power and possible selection bias. For these reasons, linking the medical birth register with administrative health records for mothers and babies is increasingly being used in countries with a universal healthcare system, allowing researchers to identify large and unselected populations from birth, and to reconstruct relevant traits and care pathways of mothers and newborns. This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health focuses on the current state of knowledge on perinatal and postnatal exposures and adverse pregnancy, maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes through population-based birth cohort studies, with a specific focus on real-word data. The 12 accepted articles covered a wide range of themes that can be addressed specifically through birth cohort study design; however, only three were based on real word data with record-linkage to health administrative databases. In particular, two papers have addressed the topic of socioeconomic status considering several indicators both at the individual and contextual level. Two papers focused on inflammatory bowel diseases, both as an outcome of perinatal and antibiotic exposure in early life and as a condition associated with asthma, among children identified in a birth cohort based on a Regional Medical Birth Register. Three articles focused on medication use during pregnancy and its impact on maternal and fetal health. The effect of exposure to prenatal environmental risk factors on perinatal and childhood outcomes has been considered in two papers. Two papers analyzed ad hoc nationwide prospective birth cohorts set in Japan and UK. Finally, we included a systematic review with meta-analysis to evaluate the relation between growth restriction at birth and congenital heart defects. We think that this Special Issue may contribute to enriching the discussion of future challenges, opportunities, strengths and limitations for all research topics that can be investigated using a population-based birth cohort study design.

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The Dutch famine birth cohort study: design, validation of exposure, and selected characteristics of subjects after 43 years follow-up

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-3016.1993.tb00415.x ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 354-367 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

L. H. Lumey ◽

A. C. J. Ravelli ◽

L. G. Wiessing ◽

J. G. Koppe ◽

P. E. Treffers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Study Design ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Design Validation ◽

Cohort Study Design

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An Automated Text-Messaging Platform for Enhanced Retention and Data Collection in a Longitudinal Birth Cohort: Cohort Management Platform Analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.11666 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Caroline M Barry ◽

Aditi Sabhlok ◽

Victoria C Saba ◽

Alesha D Majors ◽

Julia C Schechter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Short Message ◽

Management Platform ◽

Message Service ◽

Study Participants

BACKGROUND Traditional methods for recruiting and maintaining contact with participants in cohort studies include print-based correspondence, which can be unidirectional, labor intensive, and slow. Leveraging technology can substantially enhance communication, maintain engagement of study participants in cohort studies, and facilitate data collection on a range of outcomes. OBJECTIVE This paper provides an overview of the development process and design of a cohort management platform (CMP) used in the Newborn Epigenetic STudy (NEST), a large longitudinal birth cohort study. METHODS The platform uses short message service (SMS) text messaging to facilitate interactive communication with participants; it also semiautomatically performs many recruitment and retention procedures typically completed by research assistants over the course of multiple study follow-up visits. RESULTS Since February 2016, 302 participants have consented to enrollment in the platform and 162 have enrolled with active engagement in the system. Daily reminders are being used to help improve adherence to the study’s accelerometer wear protocol. At the time of this report, 213 participants in our follow-up study who were also registered to use the CMP were eligible for the accelerometer protocol. Preliminary data show that texters (138/213, 64.8%), when compared to nontexters (75/213, 35.2%), had significantly longer average accelerometer-wearing hours (165.6 hours, SD 56.5, vs 145.3 hours, SD 58.5, P=.01) when instructed to wear the devices for 1 full week. CONCLUSIONS This platform can serve as a model for enhancing communication and engagement with longitudinal study cohorts, especially those involved in studies assessing environmental exposures.

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190. Parental Musculoskeletal Disorders Associate With Children’s Prodromal Symptoms of Psychosis: A Population-Based Birth Cohort Study With 8-Year Follow-Up

Schizophrenia Bulletin ◽

10.1093/schbul/sbx021.268 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. S100-S100

Author(s):

Lotta Kinnunen ◽

Tanja Nordström ◽

Mika Niemelä ◽

Sami Räsänen ◽

Michael Sawyer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Population Based ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Prodromal Symptoms

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Pregnancy and birth cohorts in Europe

Journal of bioanthropology ◽

10.54062/jb.1.1.7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 93-113

Author(s):

Iva Šunić ◽

Natalija Novokmet ◽

Jelena Šarac ◽

Dubravka Havaš Auguštin ◽

Nives Fuchs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Studies ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

General Information ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Research Subjects ◽

Birth Cohorts ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Expectant Mothers ◽

Pregnancy And Birth

A birth cohort study is a form of study that uses expectant mothers and newborn as research subjects. This form of research is suitable for epidemiological studies, which pregnancy and birth cohort studies generally are. Data is collected in order to identify health consequences and overall health outcomes. The main aim of this paper is to review and summarize all cohort studies that have been carried out or are still being conducted in Europe, as well as general information such as aim of the study, number of participants and duration of follow-up. Gathering information was made easier by websites such as Birthcohorts, CHICOS and LifeCycle, where many of the cohorts and their sources are listed. The remaining data was found by searching Google Scholar, PubMed and similar webpages, using keywords ‘birth and pregnancy cohorts’, ‘infants’, ‘pregnancies’, ‘allergies’ and ‘childhood obesity’. Overall, 137 cohorts in 27 countries were found. They are a great and important source of information and for the most part, concentrate on general health and wellbeing of mothers and children. Collaboration between different birth cohorts is crucial for further harmonization of collected data and their use in the public health systems worldwide

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Oral health follow-up studies in the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study: methodology and principal results

Cadernos de Saúde Pública ◽

10.1590/s0102-311x2010001000016 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 26 (10) ◽

pp. 1990-1999 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Marco A. Peres ◽

Aluísio Jardim Barros ◽

Karen Glazer Peres ◽

Cora Luiza Araújo ◽

Ana M. B. Menezes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oral Health ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Population Based ◽

High Response Rate ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Follow Up Studies ◽

Study Methodology ◽

Number Of Individuals ◽

Carious Teeth

The aim of this study was to describe oral health follow-up studies nested in a birth cohort. A population-based birth cohort was launched in 1993 in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Two oral health follow-up studies were conducted at six (n = 359) and 12 (n = 339) years of age. A high response rate was observed at 12 years of age; 94.4% of the children examined at six years of age were restudied in 2005. The mean DMF-T index at age 12 was 1.2 (SD = 1.6) for the entire sample, ranging from 0.6 (SD = 1.1) for children that were caries-free at age six, 1.3 (SD = 1.5) for those with 1-3 carious teeth at six years, and 1.8 (SD = 1.8) for those with 4-19 carious teeth at six years (p < 0.01). The number of individuals with severe malocclusions at 12 years was proportional to the number of malocclusions at six years. Oral health problems in early adolescence were more prevalent in individuals with dental problems at six years of age.

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The Pelotas birth cohort study, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 1982-2001

Cadernos de Saúde Pública ◽

10.1590/s0102-311x2003000500003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 1241-1256 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Cesar G. Victora ◽

Fernando C. Barros ◽

Rosângela C. Lima ◽

Dominique P. Behague ◽

Helen Gonçalves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Health Studies ◽

Hospital Births ◽

The Life Course

Given the growing recognition of the importance of the life course approach for the determination of chronic diseases, birth cohort studies are becoming increasingly important. This paper describes the methods used in the 1982 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study, one of the largest and longest studies of this type in developing countries. All 5,914 hospital births occurring in Pelotas in 1982 (over 99% of all deliveries) were studied prospectively. The main stages of the study took place in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1995, 1997, 2000, and 2001. More than two thousand variables are available for each subject who participated in all stages of the study. Recent phases of the study included the examination of 2,250 males when presenting for the army recruitment exam in 2000, the study of a 27% sample of men and women in 2001 through household visits, and the study of over 400 children born to the cohort women. Follow-up rates in the recent stages of the cohort were 78.9% for the army examination and 69.0% for the household visits. Ethnographic and oral health studies were conducted in sub-samples. Some recent results on blood pressure, adolescent pregnancy, and asthma are presented as examples of utilization of the data. Suggestions on lessons learned for other cohort studies are proposed.

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Anorectal Malformations and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer—Is Early Routine Endoscopic Screening Indicated?

European Journal of Pediatric Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1718749 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Anna Svenningsson ◽

Anna Gunnarsdottir ◽

Tomas Wester

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Anorectal Malformations ◽

Population Based ◽

Observational Period ◽

Endoscopic Screening ◽

Medical Birth Register ◽

National Patient ◽

And Gender

Abstract Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been reported in early adulthood in patients with anorectal malformation (ARM), and therefore, the need of endoscopic controls has been discussed. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of CRC in patients with ARM. Materials and Methods This was a nationwide population-based study with data from Swedish national health care registers. All patients diagnosed with ARM born in Sweden between 1964 and 1999 were identified in the National Patient Register. The same group was followed up in the Swedish Cancer Register from birth to December 31, 2014, for occurrences of CRC. Five age- and gender-matched individuals randomly selected from the Medical Birth Register served as controls for each ARM patient born between 1973 and 1999. Results A total of 817 patients (474 males) with ARM were included and followed up from birth to the end of observational period. Time of follow-up ranged from 15 to 50 years (mean: 28 years). None of the patients was diagnosed with CRC during the observational period. One case of rectal cancer and one case of sigmoid cancer were detected among the 3,760 controls. Conclusion In our study, the risk of CRC in early adulthood in patients with ARM is low. Our result does not support routine endoscopic follow-up for patients with ARM during the first decade of life.

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Cognitive Performance and Cerebrospinal Fluid Markers in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease: Results from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-200751 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 79 (1) ◽

pp. 225-235

Author(s):

Maya Arvidsson Rådestig ◽

Johan Skoog ◽

Henrik Zetterberg ◽

Jürgen Kern ◽

Anna Zettergren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Population Based ◽

Tau Pathology ◽

Preclinical Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Preclinical Ad

Background: We have previously shown that older adults with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) had slightly worse performance in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) than participants without preclinical AD pathology. Objective: We therefore aimed to compare performance on neurocognitive tests in a population-based sample of 70-year-olds with and without CSF AD pathology. Methods: The sample was derived from the population-based Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies in Sweden. Participants (n = 316, 70 years old) underwent comprehensive cognitive examinations, and CSF Aβ-42, Aβ-40, T-tau, and P-tau concentrations were measured. Participants were classified according to the ATN system, and according to their Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score. Cognitive performance was examined in the CSF amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration (ATN) categories. Results: Among participants with CDR 0 (n = 259), those with amyloid (A+) and/or tau pathology (T+, N+) showed similar performance on most cognitive tests compared to participants with A-T-N-. Participants with A-T-N+ performed worse in memory (Supra span (p = 0.003), object Delayed (p = 0.042) and Immediate recall (p = 0.033)). Among participants with CDR 0.5 (n = 57), those with amyloid pathology (A+) scored worse in category fluency (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Cognitively normal participants with amyloid and/or tau pathology performed similarly to those without any biomarker evidence of preclinical AD in most cognitive domains, with the exception of slightly poorer memory performance in A-T-N+. Our study suggests that preclinical AD biomarkers are altered before cognitive decline.

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