Secular changes in the height of Polish schoolboys from 1955 to 1988.

Secular changes in height have been observed in many regions of Poland using cross-sectional data; however, data from four nationally representative surveys conducted from 1955 to 1988 have only been partially analyzed. Dramatic social and economic transitions during this 33 year period provide a unique opportunity to understand changes in growth within this historic context. We analyzed the changes in height of boys, aged 7-18 years, from surveys conducted in 1955, 1966, 1978 and 1988. Data for height were converted to Z-scores using the LMS method and the 2000 National Center for Health Statistics reference. In each consecutive survey year, boys at all ages were significantly taller than the same aged boys from the previous survey year, with mean height increases of a 2.35 cm, 3.43 cm and 1.47 cm between 1955 and 1966, 1966 and 1978 and 1978 and 1988, respectively. There were significant declines with age in height Z-scores from 7 to 14 years of age, followed by improvements relative to the reference between 14 and 18 years of age. The decline in Z-scores may be partially explained by an effect of delayed maturation. However, historic context also supports that some birth cohorts likely experienced a more adverse environment during early childhood than did other birth cohorts.

Childhood and adolescent body fat and its relationship with health outcome in 50 year old males and females: the Wroclaw Growth Study.

The aim of the study was to estimate the association between relative weight in childhood and adolescence and its relationship with adult health outcome. Longitudinal data of the body mass index (BMI) from the Wroclaw Growth Study (WGS) covering ages 8 to 18 and then a follow-up at 50 were used. At the age of 50, 124 males and 139 females in the longitudinal study underwent medical examination. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), total cholesterol (TCH), high density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HDL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol level (LDL), triglyceride level (TGL) and fasting glucose level (GLUC) were assessed by using standard techniques. The values of BMI were standardised with the LMS method. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between health parameters and BMI at ages 8-18, adjusted for BMI at the age of 50, separately for different age categories and parameters, except for blood pressure where the usage of anti-hypertension medication was additionally used as a control variable. In males total cholesterol concentration showed a significant negative correlation with standardised BMI at ages 9-12 and 16 and 17. In females, only blood pressure showed a significant negative relationship with standardised BMI in all age categories reaching the highest values at age 15. The BMI in childhood and adolescence have only a weak effect on health outcome at age 50.

Relationship between early puberty and the risk of hypertension/overweight at age 50: evidence for a modified Barker hypothesis among Polish youth.

The objective of this paper is to evaluate: (a) the association between BMI in childhood and adolescence and BMI at age 50, and (b) the association between timing of maturation at puberty and BMI at age 50 and the occurrence of high blood pressure. We explore whether differences in somatic and physiological factors observed among children with early or late onset of puberty indicates that this period of life could be critical for appearance of some CVD risk factors later in the life cycle. Our data include 135 males and 148 females, born in 1953, participants in the Wroclaw Longitudinal Study. Data pertaining to their growth and several indices of sexual and skeletal maturation were collected yearly between age 8 and 18. Subsequently, their anthropometric traits were measured and cardiovascular health status was assessed at age 50. We find that BMI at distinct stages in the life cycle were positively correlated. Also BMI at 50 were positively associated with blood pressure at 50. Moreover, earlier maturation at puberty is associated with higher values of BMI at age 50. We also find that earlier pubertal maturation is an independent factor that influences the appearance of high blood pressure in adulthood.

Socioeconomic status during childhood and health status in adulthood: the Wroclaw growth study.

It has been widely observed that socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with frequency of cardiovascular disease. Both men and women of low socioeconomic position have increased risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and premature death. In this study the relationship between SES in childhood, and health status at the age of 50 years was examined. Socioeconomic status in childhood was measured using objective (father's educational level and number of children in the family) and subjective (self-assessed SES in childhood declared in early adulthood) indicators. Data from the Wroclaw Growth Study were completed when subjects were 50 years old, and information concerning health status was added. The results indicated that the objective, universally used measures of SES in childhood such as father's educational level and size of family did not show any essential relationships with health outcomes in adulthood, both for men and women. By contrast, retrospective, self-assessed SES (as better, average or worse as compared with peers) in childhood was significantly associated with the appearance of cardiovascular disease among women aged 50 years. Women who at the beginning of their adult life declared better socioeconomic condition in childhood were significantly healthier at the age of 50 years (OR=3.43; p=0.02). Moreover, this appeared to be independent of BMI, SES and life-style in adulthood. For men, retrospective self-assessed SES showed no relation to health status at the age of 50 years. The gender differences in the relationships between self-assessed SES in childhood and health status in adulthood are explained by possible selective premature mortality among men from lower childhood SES and/or sex differences in cognitive abilities.