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Altitude effect on birth weight and prematurity in the P rovince of C atamarca ( A rgentina)
Author(s) -
Candelas Nieves,
Terán José Manuel,
López Barbancho Diego,
Díaz María Cristina,
Lomaglio Delia Beatriz,
Marrodán María Dolores
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.22680
Subject(s) - birth weight , gestational age , altitude (triangle) , hum , low birth weight , incidence (geometry) , medicine , demography , effects of high altitude on humans , pediatrics , obstetrics , biology , pregnancy , mathematics , art , genetics , geometry , anatomy , sociology , performance art , art history
Objectives To analyze the effect of altitude on weight and prematurity at birth in the Province of Catamarca (Argentina), between the years 1994 and 2003. Methods Records of 22,628 newborns were collected from the vital statistics of the census of Catamarca. Weight was recategorized to include low birth weight (<2,500 g), and gestational age was divided into births that had occurred before or after 37 weeks (preterm or at term births). Altitude was also recategorized (<1,500 m, 1,500–2,000 m, and > 2,000 m). Nonparametric statistical tests were performed. Results Differences were found in birth weight between sexes and in the incidence of low birth weight depending on altitude. This pattern changed according to gestational age, because those sexual differences were nonexistent or lower in preterm neonates with certain advantages for females. Moreover, it was found that the effects of hypoxia were not reflected in birth weight until later stages of intrauterine development. Conclusions To be female appears to be a benefit under conditions of prematurity and high altitude. The increased incidence of prematurity due to altitude increase may reflect an adaptive advantage of preterm birth under these conditions. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:526–529, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.