Association between Number of Siblings and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Childhood and in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Jukka Pihlman,Costan G Magnussen,Suvi P Rovio,Katja Pahkala,Eero Jokinen,Tomi P Laitinen,Nina Hutri-Kähönen,Päivi Tossavainen,Leena Taittonen,Mika Kähönen,Jorma S.A Viikari,Olli T Raitakari,Markus Juonala,Joel Nuotio

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.05.058

Abstract

To determine the association of number of siblings on cardiovascular risk factors in childhood and in adulthood. In total, 3554 participants (51% female) from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study with cardiovascular disease risk factor data at baseline 1980 (age 3-18years) and 2491 participants with longitudinal risk factor data at the 2011 follow-up. Participants were categorized by number of siblings at baseline (0, 1, or more than 1). Risk factors (body mass index, physical activity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and overweight, and metabolic syndrome) in childhood and in adulthood were used as outcomes. Analyses were adjusted for age and sex. In childhood, participants without siblings had higher body mass index (18.2kg/m2, 95% CI 18.0-18.3) than those with 1 sibling (17.9kg/m2, 95% CI 17.8-18.0) or more than 1 sibling (17.8kg/m2, 95% CI 17.7-17.9). Childhood physical activity index was lower among participants without siblings (SD -0.08, 95% CI -0.16-0.00) compared with participants with 1 sibling (SD 0.06, 95%CI 0.01-0.11) or more than 1 sibling (SD -0.02, 95% CI -0.07-0.03). OR for adulthood hypertension was lower among participants with 1 sibling (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54-0.98) and more than 1 sibling (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52-0.97) compared with participants with no siblings. OR for obesity was lower among participants with 1 sibling (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.54-0.95) and more than 1 sibling (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.56-1.01) compared with those with no siblings. Children without siblings had poorer cardiovascular risk factor levels in childhood and in adulthood. The number of siblings could help identify individuals at increased risk that might benefit from early intervention.

Highlights

Study design In total, 3554 participants (51% female) from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study with cardiovascular disease risk factor data at baseline 1980 and 2491 participants with longitudinal risk factor data at the 2011 follow-up
Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; 9Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa, Finland; 10Department of Clinical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; 11Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; 12Division of Medicine, and 13Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Finland; and 14Heart Center, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland showing that the number of offspring associates with the risk of Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in mothers,[4,5] or in both parents,[3] and other studies have found no[6,7] or nonlinear[8,9] associations
Childhood Risk Factors Of the childhood risk factors, the number of siblings was associated with childhood Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, Body mass index (BMI), and physical activity (Table II, adjusted for sex and age)

Summary

Introduction

Study design In total, 3554 participants (51% female) from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study with cardiovascular disease risk factor data at baseline 1980 (age 3-18 years) and 2491 participants with longitudinal risk factor data at the 2011 follow-up. Participants were categorized by number of siblings at baseline (0, 1, or more than 1). Risk factors (body mass index, physical activity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and overweight, and metabolic syndrome) in childhood and in adulthood were used as outcomes. Analyses were adjusted for age and sex

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion