Preterm birth, birthweight, and subsequent risk for depression

Neha Rahalkar; Aaron Holman-Vittone; Christian Daniele; Rachel Wacks; Autumn Gagnon; Amy D'Agata; Nazmus Saquib; Peter F Schnatz; Mary C Sullivan; Robert Wallace; Cassandra N Spracklen

doi:10.1017/S2040174423000296

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Preterm birth, birthweight, and subsequent risk for depression

Journal article

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Preterm birth, birthweight, and subsequent risk for depression

Neha Rahalkar, Aaron Holman-Vittone, Christian Daniele, Rachel Wacks, Autumn Gagnon, Amy D'Agata, Nazmus Saquib, Peter F Schnatz, Mary C Sullivan, Robert Wallace, …

Journal of developmental origins of health and disease, Vol.14(5), pp.623-630

10/2023

DOI: 10.1017/S2040174423000296

PMCID: PMC10841880

PMID: 37886824

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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10841880/pdf/nihms-1936836.pdfView

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Abstract

An individual's birthweight, a marker of in utero exposures, was recently associated with certain psychiatric conditions. However, studies investigating the relationship between an individual's preterm birth status and/or birthweight and risk for depression during adulthood are sparse; we used data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) to investigate these potential associations. At study entry, 86,925 postmenopausal women reported their birthweight by category (<6 lbs., 6-7 lbs. 15 oz., 8-9 lbs. 15 oz., or ≥10 lbs.) and their preterm birth status (full-term or ≥4 weeks premature). Women also completed the Burnham screen for depression and were asked to self-report if: (a) they had ever been diagnosed with depression, or (b) if they were taking antidepressant medications. Linear and logistic regression models were used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted effect estimates. Compared to those born weighing between 6 and 7 lbs. 15 oz., individuals born weighing <6 lbs. (βadj = 0.007, P < 0.0001) and ≥10 lbs. (βadj = 0.006, P = 0.02) had significantly higher Burnam scores. Individuals born weighing <6 lbs. were also more likely to have depression (adjOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.11-1.31). Individuals born preterm were also more likely to have depression (adjOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.35); while attenuated, this association remained in analyses limited to only those reportedly born weighing <6 lbs. Our research supports the role of early life exposures on health risks across the life course. Individuals born at low or high birthweights and those born preterm may benefit from early evaluation and long-term follow-up for the prevention and treatment of mental health outcomes.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Preterm birth, birthweight, and subsequent risk for depression
Creators: Neha Rahalkar - University of Massachusetts Amherst
Aaron Holman-Vittone - University of Massachusetts Amherst
Christian Daniele - University of Massachusetts Amherst
Rachel Wacks - University of Massachusetts Amherst
Autumn Gagnon
Amy D'Agata
Nazmus Saquib - Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges
Peter F Schnatz - Thomas Jefferson University
Mary C Sullivan - Thomas Jefferson University
Robert Wallace - University of Iowa
Cassandra N Spracklen - University of Massachusetts Amherst
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of developmental origins of health and disease, Vol.14(5), pp.623-630
DOI: 10.1017/S2040174423000296
PMID: 37886824
PMCID: PMC10841880
NLM abbreviation: J Dev Orig Health Dis
ISSN: 2040-1744
eISSN: 2040-1752
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 10/27/2023
Date published: 10/2023
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center
Record Identifier: 9984512054002771

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