Abstract
ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To analyze the association of characteristics recorded at the time of birth, including weight, occurrence of asphyxia, gestation duration, maternal age and education level, with death from diseases or malformations of the circulatory system in children under 18 years of age.METHODS The Brazilian Information System on Live Births and Information System on Mortality databases were linked and evaluated following a longitudinal cohort analysis strategy. The following independent variables were evaluated: characteristics recorded at the time of birth, including weight, occurrence of asphyxia, gestation duration, maternal age and education level. Dependent variables were death from diseases or malformations of the circulatory system in children under 18 years of age. Crude relative risks were estimated and relative risks were adjusted for the variables.RESULTS 6,380 deaths were linked to 4,282,260 birth records, yielding 5,062 pairs considered as true. Low birth weight (RR = 2.26), asphyxia at 1 (RR = 1.72) and 5 minutes (RR = 1.51), prematurity (RR = 1.50), maternal age ≥ 40 years (RR = 2.06), and low maternal education level (RR = 1.45) increased the probability of death caused by circulatory system diseases. In the association with death by malformations of the circulatory system, the predictive variables showed the same association profile, but with greater intensity.CONCLUSIONS Fetal and maternal factors are associated with increased mortality due to diseases and malformations of the circulatory system. Measures to control these factors and improve access to their diagnosis and treatment would contribute to reducing the number of deaths caused by diseases and malformations of the circulatory system. However, the identification of environmental influences during gestation and birth on the risk of death should be carefully considered due to being influenced by genetic factors.
Highlights
In recent decades, diseases of the circulatory system (DCS) in adults have been associated with high morbidity and mortality in Brazil and worldwide[1,2]
Fetal and maternal factors are associated with increased mortality due to diseases and malformations of the circulatory system
Measures to control these factors and improve access to their diagnosis and treatment would contribute to reducing the number of deaths caused by diseases and malformations of the circulatory system
Summary
Diseases of the circulatory system (DCS) in adults have been associated with high morbidity and mortality in Brazil and worldwide[1,2]. David Barker’s hypothesis about a fetal origin for cardiovascular diseases suggests that environmental exposures to intrauterine risk factors affect fetal development and increase the risk of DCS, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in adulthood[9] Studies in this field have investigated whether weight and head circumference at birth could predict the occurrence of DCS in adulthood, and whether low birth weight and the parents’ social stratum could predict an increased mortality from these diseases[10,11]. On the other hand, regarding deaths due to malformations of the circulatory system (MCS), studies reveal their association with birth conditions such as prematurity and low birth weight[15,16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
