Lifecourse influences on health among British adults: effects of region of residence in childhood and adulthood.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

It has been suggested that early life exposures are important determinants of geographical variations in adult diseases. We examined inter-regional migrants in Britain to evaluate the relative importance of early and recent exposures for adult cardiorespiratory risk factors, mental ill-health and sensory function.

METHODS:

A total of 9023 persons born throughout England, Scotland and Wales during 1 week in 1958 were followed periodically through childhood into adulthood. At 44-45 years, height, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), glycosylated haemoglobin, total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), hearing threshold at 4 kHz, visual impairment, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and chronic widespread pain were measured. Analysis of migration between 12 regions included 3125 cohort members who were examined in a region different to their birthplace.

RESULTS:

Height, BMI, diastolic BP (DBP), FEV1, log-transformed IgE and hearing threshold varied by region among non-migrants (each P < 0.05). Among inter-regional migrants, the spatial associations with current region, independent of birthplace, followed closely the geographical pattern shown among non-migrants for BMI, DBP and FEV1 (each P < 0.001). In contrast, of the 15 outcomes, only adult height was related to region of birth, after adjustment for region of examination (P = 0.002)

CONCLUSIONS:

Although individual disease risk is predicted by early life factors, early exposures do not explain regional variations in cardiovascular and respiratory risk factors among middle-aged adults in Britain. Geographical inequalities in cardiorespiratory health are more strongly related to factors associated with region of examination that influence obesity, BP and ventilatory function.

• Authors: David P Strachan, Alicja R Rudnicka, Chris Power, Peter Shepherd, Elizabeth Fuller, Adrian Davis, Ian Gibb, Meena Kumari, Ann Rumley, Gary J Macfarlane, Jugnoo Rahi, Bryan Rodgers, Stephen Stansfeld
• Journal: International journal of epidemiology (Int J Epidemiol) Vol. 36 Issue 3 Pg. 522-31 (Jun 2007) ISSN: 0300-5771 [Print] England
• PMID: 17255346 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Adult
• Blood Pressure
• Body Height
• Body Mass Index
• Cardiovascular Diseases (epidemiology, etiology)
• England (epidemiology)
• Epidemiologic Methods
• Forced Expiratory Volume
• Health Status
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Infant, Newborn
• Mental Disorders (epidemiology, etiology)
• Middle Aged
• Residence Characteristics
• Respiration Disorders (epidemiology, etiology)
• Scotland (epidemiology)
• Transients and Migrants
• Wales (epidemiology)