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Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health logoLink to Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
. 1989 Sep;43(3):237–240. doi: 10.1136/jech.43.3.237

The intrauterine and early postnatal origins of cardiovascular disease and chronic bronchitis.

D J Barker 1, C Osmond 1, C M Law 1
PMCID: PMC1052843  PMID: 2607302

Abstract

Geographical differences in mortality from cardiovascular disease and chronic bronchitis within England and Wales are closely related to past differences in infant mortality. This paper examines the separate relations of mortality during 1968-78 with neonatal and post-neonatal mortality during 1911-25. These divisions of infant mortality are indicators of the intrauterine and early postnatal environments respectively. Stroke is related to neonatal mortality and therefore to the intrauterine environment. Prenatal determinants of blood pressure levels may be one mechanism underlying this. Bronchitis is related to postnatal mortality and therefore to the postnatal environment. This may reflect the long term effects of lower respiratory tract infection in early childhood. Ischaemic heart disease is related to both neonatal and post-neonatal mortality and therefore to the intrauterine and postnatal environments. The links may include blood pressure and as yet unknown processes established in early postnatal life.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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