Effect of Maternal Age at Childbirth on Obesity in Postmenopausal Women: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Korea

Mortality from non-communicable diseases and associated risk factors in Zambia; analysis of the sample vital registration with verbal autopsy 2015/2016

BACKGROUND

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the world's growing cause of preventable illness, disability, morbidity, and mortality which account for 71% of deaths. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with mortality from NCDs among persons aged 15 years and above in Zambia.

METHODOLOGY

The study used data from Sample Vital Registration with Verbal Autopsy (SAVVY) 2015/16 (Zambia). A total of 3529 Verbal Autopsy were completed in the study, with only 2599 of death where among people aged 15 years and above. Three-level data analysis was applied; univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis (binary logistic regression).

FINDINGS

The overall number of deaths from NCDs was 28.81%. Stratified analysis by gender showed that deaths from NCDs were higher among women (32.60%) as compared to men (26.25%). Among all persons, dying from NCDs was associated with tobacco use, age, and education. Tobacco use was negatively associated with mortality from NCDs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48-0.98). Age was positively associated with the odds of dying from NCDs among persons aged 45-59 years (aOR = 3.87, 95% CI: 2.13-7.01), 60-74 years (aOR = 12.05, 95% CI: 6.44-22.55), and 75 + years (aOR = 15.16, 95% CI: 7.93-28.97). The likelihood of dying from NCDs was higher among persons with secondary education as compared to those with no education (aOR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.11-3.33).

CONCLUSION

The findings from this study suggest that public health interventions targeting NCDs need to consider behavioural factors, especially tobacco use which exposes people to second-hand smoke. We also recommend large-scale national-level studies to further examine the contribution of each factor leading to mortality from NCDs.

Prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition and overnutrition among ever-married adolescent girls in Bangladesh: an analysis of national surveys from 2004 to 2017

Nutritional impairment during adolescence may result in adverse physical and reproductive health outcomes. We investigated the prevalence and determined the factors associated with underweight and overweight/obesity among ever-married adolescent girls in Bangladesh. We used Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys data conducted in 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017. A total of 7040 ever-married adolescent girls aged 15-19 years were included in this analysis. Prevalence of underweight (body mass index [BMI]<18.5 kg/m2) significantly decreased from 39.53% (95% CI = 36.71, 42.43) to 23.62% (95% CI = 21.35, 26.05) during 2004-2017 (p < 0.001). However, prevalence of overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2) significantly increased from 5.9% (95% CI = 4.67, 7.43) to 22.71% (95% CI = 20.39, 25.20) during the same period (p < 0.001). The girls with higher age (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.90, 0.99, p = 0.023), higher level of education (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.43, 0.83, p = 0.002), and richest wealth quintile (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.62, 0.98, p = 0.035) had significantly lower risk of being underweight. Adolescent girls having more than one child (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.73, p = 0.001) were more likely to be underweight. Elderly adolescents with better economic status were more at risk of being overweight/obese (OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.86, 3.55, p < 0.001). Girls married to skilled/unskilled workers (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.44, 0.77, p < 0.001) and persons involved in small businesses (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.49, 0.89, p = 0.007) had lower risk of having a high BMI. Using contraceptive (OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.69, 0.94, p = 0.006) was negatively associated with overweight/obese. Although prevalence of undernutrition among ever-married adolescent girls is declining, the proportion of being overweight/obese is increasing in Bangladesh warranting effective strategies to improve adolescent nutrition.

A comprehensive evaluation of predictors of obesity in women during the perimenopausal period: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

INTRODUCTION

Obesity during perimenopausal transition can be attributed to various factors. Identifying these factors is crucial in preventing obesity and developing effective strategies to manage weight during this phase. This review aimed to systematically understand predictors of obesity during menopausal transition.

METHODS

The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and searched databases like PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and Cochrane Reviews. Cohort and cross-sectional studies in English language assessing obesity among menopausal women were included. The methodological quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Checklist for critical appraisal. Risk of Bias (RoB) was generated using Review Manager 5.4.1 (RevMan). Identified predictors were assessed for overall quality of evidence using adopted Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

RESULTS

This review encompassed 42 studies, (21 cross-sectional and 21 cohort) with sample ranging from 164 to 107,243 across studies. Higher parity( ≥ 3 children) emerged as a strong predictor of obesity across seven studies, with good-quality evidence. Lower physical activity was another predictor, supported by eight studies with good-quality evidence. Sociodemographic factors like lower education(<8 years or < than college degree), socioeconomic background, menopausal transition, and older age at menarche showed associations with weight gain, with moderate-quality evidence. Lifestyle factors (high-fat consumption, sedentariness, active smoking status, and psychological difficulties) also showed moderate-quality evidence.

CONCLUSION

This review underscores the multifaceted factors associated with obesity during the perimenopausal transition. Identifying these factors will be helpful in prevention and management of obesity among these women.

Adolescent childbirth and mobility disability among women ages 15-49: an analysis of population health surveys from 14 low-income and middle-income countries

OBJECTIVES

Adolescent childbirth is associated with older adult adverse health outcomes that negatively affect mobility function, but these associations have not been studied globally in large samples of reproductive-age women. This study examines the association between age at first childbirth and mobility disability in national surveys from low-income and middle-income countries, and hypotheses that adolescent childbirth is associated with mobility disability.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING

Population health surveys from 2013 to 2018 containing mobility disability measures among ever-pregnant women ages 15-49. These included 13 Demographic Health Surveys from Haiti, Pakistan, Uganda, Cambodia, Colombia, South Africa, Timor-Leste, Albania, Gambia, Maldives, Peru, Senegal and Yemen and 1 Maternal Health Survey from Ghana.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included 157 988 women ages 15-49 years.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

Adolescent childbirth was defined as 10-19 years of age. Poisson regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) of mobility disability among women who first gave birth during adolescence and in adult life (ages 20-45 years) in each country and across the whole sample. Countries were also analysed according to the use of standard and non-standard mobility disability measures. Covariates included current age, urban/rural residence, education and household wealth.

RESULTS

Prevalence of adolescent childbirth (17.5%-66.2%) and mobility disability (0.32%-21.45%) varied widely across countries. Adolescent childbirth was significantly (p<0.05) associated with greater mobility disability in six of eight countries using standard disability measures. Among the six countries that did not use standard disability measures, none showed a statistically significant association between adolescent childbirth and mobility disability. Considering the whole sample and adjusting for all covariates, women who gave birth during adolescence had greater prevalence of mobility disability (pooled PR 1.19, 95% CI 1.06-1.31).

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis suggests a moderate and consistent association of adolescent childbearing with subsequent mobility disability.

Beyond sex differences: short- and long-term effects of pregnancy on the brain

Growing attention has been directed to the inclusion of females in neuroscience studies, and to the importance of studying sex as a biological variable. However, how female-specific factors such as menopause and pregnancy, affect the brain remains understudied. In this review, we use pregnancy as a case in point of a female-unique experience that can alter neuroplasticity, neuroinflammation, and cognition. We examine studies in both humans and rodents indicating that pregnancy can modify neural function in the short term, as well as alter the trajectory of brain aging. Furthermore, we discuss the influence of maternal age, fetal sex, number of pregnancies, and presence of pregnancy complications on brain health outcomes. We conclude by encouraging the scientific community to prioritize researching female health by recognizing and including factors such as pregnancy history in research.

Intersections between adolescent fertility and obesity-pathways and research gaps focusing on Latin American populations

Latin America has notably elevated rates of adolescent fertility and obesity in women. Although numerous studies document associations between adolescent fertility and obesity across the life course, the pathways explaining their association are insufficiently theorized, especially regarding the factors in Latin America that may underpin both. Additionally, much of the existing research is from high-income countries, where fertility and obesity are trending down. In this paper, we review the various complex pathways linking adolescent fertility and obesity, highlighting research gaps and priorities, with a particular focus on Latin American populations. We carefully consider pregnancy's distinct impact on growth trajectories during the critical period of adolescence, as well as the cumulative effect that adolescent fertility may have over the life course. We also articulate a pathway through obesity as it may contribute to early puberty and thus, to adolescent fertility. If obesity is a cause of adolescent fertility, not a result of it, or if it is a mediator of early-life exposures to adulthood obesity, these are critical distinctions for policy aiming to prevent both obesity and early fertility. Research to better understand these pathways is essential for prevention efforts against obesity and undesired adolescent fertility in Latin America.

Adverse generational changes in obesity development converge at midlife without increased cardiometabolic risk

OBJECTIVE

Obesity is becoming a global public health problem, but it is unclear how it impacts different generations over the life course. Here, a descriptive analysis of the age-related changes in anthropometric measures and related cardiometabolic risk factors across different generations was performed.

METHODS

The development of anthropometric measures and related cardiometabolic risk factors was studied during 26 years of follow-up in the Doetinchem Cohort Study (N = 6,314 at baseline). All analyses were stratified by sex and generation, i.e., 10-year age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, and 50-59 years) at baseline. Generalized estimating equations were used to test for generational differences.

RESULTS

Weight, BMI, waist circumference, and prevalence of overweight and obesity were higher, in general, in the younger generations during the first 10 to 15 years of follow-up. From age 50 to 59 years onward, these measures converged in all generations of men and women. Among cardiometabolic risk factors, only type 2 diabetes showed an unfavorable shift between the two oldest generations of men.

CONCLUSIONS

It was observed that, compared with the older generations, the younger generations had obesity at an earlier age but did not reach higher levels at midlife and beyond. This increased exposure to obesity was not (yet) associated with increased prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors.

Age at first childbirth in relation to oral health later in life

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the relationship between age at first childbirth and oral health. The mediation effect of body mass index (BMI) on this relationship was also determined.

METHODS

This study analyzed data of 2,506 parous postmenopausal women aged 50 or older from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015. Chewing inconvenience was investigated by an oral interview. Periodontitis and dental caries were determined through dental examinations. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between age at first childbirth and oral health, and mediation analysis was performed to examine the contribution of BMI on the relationship between age at first childbirth and oral health.

RESULTS

Women who underwent their first delivery between the age of 26 and 46 years had significantly decreased odds of chewing inconvenience (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.56-0.93, P = 0.010) compared with the odds of those women whose first delivery was between at the age of 15 and 22 years. We also found a significant linear relationships between age at first childbirth and odds of chewing inconvenience (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.74-0.95, P = 0.017) and dental caries (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.74-0.96, P = 0.025). BMI accounted for 12.9% of the relationship between age at first childbirth and dental caries. Age at first childbirth was only indirectly associated with periodontitis through BMI (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96-0.99, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Women whose first delivery occurred at a young age had significantly increased odds of chewing inconvenience and dental caries. BMI mediated the relationships between age at first childbirth and periodontitis and dental caries.

Association between gravidity and risk of metabolic syndrome: Results of Tabari cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association of gravidity and age at first pregnancy with metabolic syndrome in a large-scale, population-based cohort study in Iran.

METHODS

The present secondary analysis was conducted on a subset of the population (5739 women with at least one pregnancy) enrolled in the Tabari cohort study. Reproductive history was collected using a structured questionnaire. The relationship of gravidity and age at first pregnancy with metabolic syndrome and its components was analyzed using the logistic regression model.

RESULTS

The results showed that after adjustment for confounding variables, the odds of having metabolic syndrome was not significantly associated with age at first pregnancy (P = 0.269) and gravidity (P = 0.504). However, there was an association between hypertension and age at first pregnancy (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.12-0.82; P = 0.03). Additionally, waist circumference was also associated with gravidity (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.37-3.35).

CONCLUSION

As the findings indicated, age at first pregnancy and gravidity were not associated with the odds of having metabolic syndrome. However, a relationship was found between first pregnancy at the age of >35 years and the decreased risk of hypertension. Gravidity was also found to be a dose-dependent risk factor for increased waist circumference.

Associations of Pregnancy History with BMI and Weight Gain in 45-54-Year-Old Women

BACKGROUND

Midlife women have a higher risk of cardiometabolic disease than younger women, but the lifelong biological/lifestyle factors responsible for this increase are unclear.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated whether pregnancy history is a risk factor for midlife overweight/obesity and evaluated potential hormonal mechanisms.

METHODS

The Baltimore Midlife Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort, recruited 772 women aged 45-54 y. Women reported pregnancy characteristics via questionnaires, trained staff measured weight/height to calculate midlife BMI, and serum hormones were assessed by ELISA. Logistic regression models assessed associations of pregnancy history with risk of midlife overweight/obesity and BMI gain since age 18. We additionally explored whether associations differed by menopausal status, and whether midlife hormones mediated relationships of pregnancy history and midlife BMI.

RESULTS

These premenopausal or perimenopausal women were 66% Caucasian/White and 30% African American/Black, with a median of 2 live births (range: 0-11) and median age at first birth of 27 y (range: 12-46 y). Women with 0 and ≥2 live births had lower odds of overweight/obesity than those with 1 birth (OR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.96; P = 0.04, and OR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.95; P = 0.03, respectively). Women with ≥2 live births also had lower odds of BMI gain than those with 1 birth (OR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.41, 1.06; P = 0.08). Furthermore, women who were older at their first birth had lower odds of overweight/obesity (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.92, 1.00; P = 0.03) and BMI gain (OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.00; P = 0.06). Number of pregnancies and age at last pregnancy were not associated with midlife overweight/obesity or BMI gain. Associations did not differ by menopausal status and were not explained by midlife hormones.

CONCLUSIONS

Earlier childbirth and having 1 child increased women's risk of midlife overweight/obesity and BMI gain since age 18. Additional studies should focus on women's childbearing years as a critical determinant of midlife metabolic health.

Association between age at first childbirth and type 2 diabetes in Chinese women

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

The present study aims to explore the relationship between age at first childbirth and developing type 2 diabetes, and analyze potential modifiers of its relationship.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data were obtained from the baseline survey of a large-scale cohort study in 10 diverse areas of China. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze the association between developing type 2 diabetes and the age at first childbirth. Adjustments were made in each model on sociodemographic, socioeconomic and reproductive covariates. Subgroup analyses were further carried out to investigate the effects of reproductive factors, body mass index at 25 years of age and hypertension on the above-mentioned association.

RESULTS

Women who have their first child at age <20 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-1.44) and between the ages of 20 and 24 years (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.23) were more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes compared with those who have their first child between the ages of 25 and 29 years; equal to or more than three parities (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.30-1.60), premenopausal status (OR 1.58, 95% CI 0.99-2.54), overweight at age 25 years (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.37-1.93) and hypertension (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.22-1.53) are all conditions found to increase the odds of developing type 2 diabetes in those who have their their first child at an early age (<20 years).

CONCLUSIONS

The study concluded that having the first child at an early age is associated with an increased likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes later in life; reproductive factors, overweight at age 25 years and status of hypotension could modify such an association.

Health conditions associated with overweight in climacteric women

This study aims to investigate the association between health conditions and overweight in climacteric women assisted by primary care professionals. It is a cross-sectional study conducted with 874 women from 40 to 65 years of age, selected by probabilistic sampling between August 2014 and August 2015. In addition to the outcome variable, overweight and obesity, other variables such as sociodemographic, reproductive, clinical, eating and behavioural factors were evaluated. Descriptive analyses of the variables investigated were performed to determine their frequency distributions. Then, bivariate analyses were performed through Poisson regression. For the multivariate analyses, hierarchical Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with overweight and obesity in the climacteric period. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 74%. Attending public school (PR: 1.30-95% CI 1.14-1.50), less schooling (PR: 1.11-95% CI 1.01-1.23), gout (PR: 1.18-95% CI 1.16-1.44), kidney disease (PR: 1.18-95% CI 1.05-1.32), metabolic syndrome (MS) (PR: 1.19-95% CI 1.05-1.34) and fat intake (PR: 1.12-95% CI 1.02-1.23) were considered risk factors for overweight. Having the first birth after 18 years of age (PR: 0.89-95% CI 0.82 to 0.97) was shown to be a protective factor for overweight and obesity. The presence of overweight and obesity is associated with sociodemographic, reproductive, clinical and eating habits.

The long and short term effects of motherhood on the brain

Becoming a mother is associated with dramatic changes in physiology, endocrinology, immune function, and behaviour that begins during pregnancy and persists into the postpartum. Evidence also suggests that motherhood is accompanied by long-term changes in brain function. In this review, we summarize the short (pregnancy and postpartum) and long-term (beyond the postpartum and into middle age) effects of pregnancy and motherhood on cognition, neuroplasticity, and neuroimmune signalling. We also discuss the effects of previous history of pregnancy and motherhood (parity) on brain health and disease (neurodegenerative diseases and stroke outcomes) and on efficacy of hormone and antidepressant treatments. Finally, we argue that pregnancy and motherhood are unique female experiences that need to be taken into account to better understand female brain function and aging.

Sociodemographic factors and pregnancy outcomes associated with prepregnancy obesity: effect modification of parity in the nationwide Epifane birth-cohort

Background

In light of the adverse outcomes for mothers and offspring related to maternal obesity, identification of subgroups of women at risk of prepregnancy obesity and its related-adverse issues is crucial for optimizing antenatal care. We aimed to identify sociodemographic factors and maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with prepregnancy obesity, and we tested the effect modification of parity on these associations.

Methods

In 2012, 3368 mothers who had delivered in 136 randomly selected maternity wards were included just after birth in the French birth cohort, Epifane. Maternal height and weight before and at the last month of pregnancy were self-reported. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected in medical records. Prepregnancy Body Mass Index (pBMI) was classified into underweight (<18.5), normal (18.5-24.9), overweight (25.0-29.9) and obesity (≥30.0). Since we found statistically significant interactions with parity, the multinomial logistic regression model estimating associations of pBMI class with sociodemographic characteristics and pregnancy outcomes was stratified on parity (1335 primiparous and 1814 multiparous).

Results

Before pregnancy, 7.6% of women were underweight, 64.2% were of normal weight, 18.0% were overweight and 10.2% were obese. Among the primiparous, maternal age of 25-29 years (OR = 2.09 [1.13-3.87]; vs. 30-34 years), high school level (OR = 2.22 [1.33-3.73]; vs. university level), gestational diabetes (OR = 2.80 [1.56-5.01]) and hypertensive complications (OR = 3.80 [1.83-7.89]) were independently associated with prepregnancy obesity. Among the multiparous, primary (OR = 6.30 [2.40-16.57]), junior high (OR = 2.89 [1.81-4.64]) and high school (OR = 1.86 [1.18-2.93]) education levels (vs. university level), no attendance at antenatal classes (OR = 1.77 [1.16-2.72]), excess gestational weight gain (OR = 1.82 [1.20-2.76]), gestational diabetes (OR =5.16 [3.15-8.46]), hypertensive complications (OR = 8.13 [3.97-16.64]), caesarean delivery (OR = 1.80 [1.18-2.77]) and infant birth weight ≥ 4 kg (OR = 1.70 [1.03-2.80]; vs. birth weight between 2.5 kg and 4 kg) were independently associated with prepregnancy obesity.

Conclusion

Obesity before pregnancy is associated with a set of sociodemographic characteristics and adverse pregnancy outcomes that differ across parity groups. Such findings are useful for targeted health policies aimed at attaining healthy prepregnancy weight and organizing perinatal care.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12884-017-1456-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Age at First Childbirth and Hypertension in Postmenopausal Women

Whether age at first childbirth has an effect on hypertension incidence is unclear. The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between age at first childbirth and hypertension and to examine whether degree of obesity, measured as body mass index, mediates age at first childbirth-related hypertension in postmenopausal women. This study analyzed 4779 postmenopausal women data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010 to 2012. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate relationship between age at first childbirth and hypertension. Mediation analysis was performed to examine the contribution of body mass index to age at first childbirth-related hypertension. Mean of participants’ age at first childbirth and current age were 23.8 and 63.4 years, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was 51.1%. Age at first childbirth was significantly associated with the prevalence of hypertension (odds ratio, 0.963; 95% confidence interval, 0.930–0.998; P =0.036). Women with age at first childbirth ≤19 years had significantly higher risk of hypertension (odds ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–2.23; P =0.004) compared with those >19 years. Multivariable-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was significantly lower in women who delivered the first infant at 20 to 24 (45.5%), 25 to 29 (46.1%), and ≥30 (39.9%) years compared with those at ≤19 years (58.4%). Body mass index completely mediated age at first childbirth–hypertension relationship (indirect effect: odds ratio, 0.992; 95% confidence interval, 0.987–0.998; P =0.008). Age at first childbirth was significantly associated with hypertension in postmenopausal women. Body mass index mediated the effects of age at first childbirth on hypertension.