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Length of gestation and depressive symptoms at age 60 years

Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki

EERO KAJANTIE, MD

National Public Health Institute, Helsinki

KATI HEINONEN, PhD

Department of Psychology

TOM FORSÉN, MD, DMSC

Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland

DAVID I. W. PHILLIPS, MD, PhD and CLIVE OSMOND, PhD

Medical Research Council Epidemiology Resource Centre

DAVID J. P. BARKER, FRS

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

JOHAN G. ERIKSSON, MD, DMSC

Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Correspondence: Katri Räikkönen, University of Helsinki, PO Box 9, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. Email: katri.raikkonen{at}helsinki.fi

Declaration of interest None.

Background A non-optimal foetal environment, reflected in smaller birth size and shorter duration of gestation, is a risk factor for compromised health later in life.

Aims To examine whether smaller birth size and shorter gestation predict depressive symptoms.

Method A total of 1371 members of a cohort born between 1934 and 1944 at term (259–294 days’gestation) in Helsinki, Finland, completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES–D) at an average age of 61.5 years (BDI) and 63.4 years (BDI and CES–D).

Results Gestational length predicted depressive symptoms linearly and independently of gender and birth weight: per day decrease in gestational length, depressive symptoms scores increased by 0.8–0.9% (95% CI 0.2–1.4, P<0.009). Weight, length and head circumference at birth showed no linear association with depression, adjusted for gender and gestational length. The results did not change when further controlled for socio-economic characteristics at birth and in adulthood, age and body mass index in adulthood.

Conclusions Susceptibility to depressive symptoms may relate to shorter length of gestation.

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