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. 2016 Aug 9:6:31396.
doi: 10.1038/srep31396.

Japanese secular trends in birthweight and the prevalence of low birthweight infants during the last three decades: A population-based study

Yo Takemoto  1 , Erika Ota  2 , Daisuke Yoneoka  3 , Rintaro Mori  4 , Satoru Takeda  1
Affiliations

Japanese secular trends in birthweight and the prevalence of low birthweight infants during the last three decades: A population-based study

Yo Takemoto et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Since low birthweight has been correlated with both neonatal and long-term health, we performed this epidemiological study to evaluate the Japanese secular trends in mean birthweight and the prevalence of preterm/term low birthweight infants during the last three decades. We used population-based birth certificate data from January 1979 to December 2010. Time trends were analysed using a linear regression model. During the study period, we observed a significant decrease in the mean birthweight for singleton live births (3,152 ± 436 g in 1979 and 3,018 ± 421 g in 2010 p < 0.001) and an increase in the prevalence of preterm/term low birthweight infants. A 96.3% increase in the proportion of term low birthweight infants was observed during the study period (2.7% in 1979 and 5.3% in 2010). In addition, an increased proportion of preterm/low birthweight infants born to younger women was observed (<35 years vs. ≥35 years). These trends may be related to changing patterns in Japanese women's nutritional status and the relatively strict recommended limit on weight gain during pregnancy. Understanding the long-term trends for singleton births may allow us to identify the associated risk factors and reduce the future socioeconomic burden that is associated with low birthweight infants.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Secular trends in mean birthweight over 30 years.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Secular trends in prevalence of preterm, LBW, and term LBW infants.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Secular trends in LBW infants according to their birthweight.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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