Effect of Month of Birth on Mean Birth Length in Austrian Newborns Born Between 1984 and 2021.

OBJECTIVE: The length of newborns shows seasonal fluctuations, but the patterns of these fluctuations vary greatly. This study analyses the fluctuation in birth length by birth month and temporal changes in Austrian newborns from the 1984 to 2021 birth cohorts. METHODS: A total of 2 317 927 singleton-term births between 1984 and 2021 in Austria were included in this retrospective population-based cohort study. A strict inclusion criterion was the Austrian citizenship of the mother. The effect of month of birth (MOB) on birth length was estimated using a multivariable linear model adjusting for maternal educational level, newborn sex, gestational age, year of birth (YOB) of the newborn, and parity of the mother. RESULTS: Newborn length varied by MOB, but there was also a temporal trend. In the birth cohorts up to 2004, the longest newborns were born in February, while from 2008 onward, the longest birth lengths were observed in the summer months. CONCLUSION: In this Austrian population-based sample, birth length shows nonrandom fluctuations by birth month. These patterns, however, varied considerably over time.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is not an independent risk factor for breech presentation among singleton term births in Vienna, Austria.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are still discussed critically, as there is no consensus on whether these treatments could be the cause of risk factors for obstetric problems such as breech presentation. The aim of this study was to test the association between ART and breech presentation among 11920 singleton term births taking place in Vienna from 2010 to 2020. In this single-centre medical record-based study, data concerning the conception mode (spontaneous versus IVF or ICSI), child presentation, birth mode, newborn sex and size as well as age, height, weight, and reproductive history of the mother were included. Three hundred twenty-six newborns (2.7%) were conceived by IVF or ICSI, and 527 newborns (4.4%) were delivered in breech presentation. Breech presentation occurred in 7.6% of IVF/ICSI children but only in 4.3% of spontaneously conceived children (P = 0.019). ART increased the crude risk of breech presentation significantly (OR = 1.67; 95% CI 1.71 - 2.38). After adjusting for maternal age, height, number of previous births, smoking, and newborn sex, however, ART had no longer a significant impact on the risk of breech presentation. In contrast, breech presentation was significantly associated with higher maternal age as well as a lower number of previous births, but not with ART. This study shows that the adverse outcomes of IVF and ICSI pregnancies may not be due to the ART treatment alone but might also be due to the mostly higher age and lower parity of the mothers using ART.

Sexual dimorphism in directional asymmetry of the upper limb bones among Khoe-San skeletons.

Right side-biased directional asymmetries in upper limb bones are described for non-human primates, modern humans and also for historical populations. According to numerous studies the degree of bilateral asymmetries varies by sex, possibly due to sex-typical labor division. The present study focused on sexual dimorphism in bilateral asymmetries of the upper limb bones among a historical Khoe-San skeletal sample, the Pöch Collection housed at the Department of Anthropology at the University of Vienna. Forty metric dimensions of humeri, ulnae, radii and clavicles of 83 adult Khoe-San individuals were measured. Directional and absolute asymmetries of each measurement were calculated. With the exception of maximal clavicle length, a significant right-biased asymmetry could be documented for both sexes. Regarding sex differences, it could be shown that a markedly greater percentage of right side dominant asymmetry of humerus length and upper limb length was found among females, while male skeletons exhibited a significantly greater percentage of absolute asymmetry in breadth and circumference dimensions, indicating a greater asymmetry in traits of robustness. These sex differences can be interpreted as a result of sex-typical labor division in this traditional historical population.

Diversity in auxology: between theory and practice. Proceedings of the 18th Aschauer Soiree, 13th November 2010.

Auxology has developed from mere describing child and adolescent growth into a vivid and interdisciplinary research area encompassing human biologists, physicians, social scientists, economists and biostatisticians. The meeting illustrated the diversity in auxology, with the various social, medical, biological and biostatistical aspects in studies on child growth and development.

[Evaluation of maternal parameters as risk factors for premature birth (individual and combined effects)]. / Evaluierung von mütterlichen Merkmalen als Risikofaktoren für Frühgeburtlichkeit (Einzel- und Kombinationswirkung).

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the individual and combined effects of nine maternal parameters (biological, medical, and social) on rates of prematurity. Our objective was to provide obstetricians with a way of screening women for likely premature deliveries. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis on the data of about 2.3 million pregnancies taken from the German perinatal statistics of 1995-2000. Rates of prematurity were calculated with single and multi-dimensional analyses on the basis of nine maternal parameters (age, weight, height, number of previous live births, stillbirths, miscarriages and terminations of pregnancy, smoking status, previous premature delivery). The following combinations of parameters were investigated in particular: rates of prematurity according to the number of previous stillbirths, miscarriages, and terminations; rates of prematurity according to the number of previous live births and maternal age, height and weight. We also included daily cigarette consumption and previous premature deliveries in our analyses. RESULTS: The rate of prematurity (< or =36 weeks of gestation) in our population was 7.0%; the rate of moderately early premature deliveries (32-36 weeks) was 5.9%, and the rate of very early premature deliveries (< or =31 weeks) was 1.1%. Our multi-dimensional analyses revealed rates of prematurity (< or =36 weeks) between 5.1% and 27.5% depending on the combination of parameters. We found the highest rate of prematurity of 27.5% in women with the following combination of parameters: > or =1 stillbirth, > or =2 terminations of pregnancy and > or =2 miscarriages. A rather high risk of premature delivery (>11%) was also found for elderly (> or =40 years) grand multiparous women as well as small (< or =155 cm) and slim women (< or =45 kg). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that certain combinations of maternal parameters are associated with a high risk of premature deliveries (>10%). The risk table that we present here may assist in predicting premature delivery.

Obesity among female adolescents in Vienna, Austria--the impact of childhood weight status and ethnicity.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to analyse prevalence of overweight and obesity among migrant girls in Vienna, Austria, starting at the age of 6 years up to the age of 15 years. DESIGN: In a longitudinal study, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among migrant girls from Turkey and former Yugoslavia was documented and compared with that among Austrian girls in Vienna. SETTING: Medical investigation of medical school authority in Viennese schools. SAMPLE: Seven hundred and ninety girls of low socio-economic status were included in the study. METHODS: Anthropometric data were collected at the age of 6, 10 and 15 years. Body mass was estimated by means of the body mass index (BMI), and percentile curves were used for determining the weight status. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Stature, body weight, BMI, weight status. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was significantly higher among migrant girls at all age groups. The highest percentage of overweight was found among 10-year-old girls from Yugoslavia (nearly 35%) and the lowest percentage of overweight was exhibited in 6-year-old Austrian girls (20%). Being overweight or obese at the age of 6 years increased the risk of being overweight at 10 and 15 years significantly (P < 0.001). Among migrants, this risk was significantly higher than among Austrian girls (P < 0.001). Only 64.8% of Austrian girls, who were overweight/obese at the age of 6 years, were still classified as overweight at the age of 15 years. Among migrant girls, who were overweight at the age of 6 years, 72.0% (Turkish girls) and 78.3% (Yugoslavian girls) remained overweight until the age of 15 years. CONCLUSIONS: Especially girls from former Yugoslavia but also Turkish girls exhibited high rates of overweight and obesity. Prevention should start as early as possible since overweight tends to persist from childhood into adolescence.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in male adolescents in Austria between 1985 and 2000. A population based study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the prevalence of overweight and obesity in young Austrian men, to describe a possible time trend during the observation period 1985-2000 and to define regional differences within the country. DESIGN: Epidemiological population based investigation (conscript health investigation) comparing aggregated data of four cross-sectional studies. SUBJECTS: Four cohorts of 18 year-old males (1985: n = 50,475, 1990: n = 47,463, 1995: n 39,275, 2000: n = 43,503), in total n = 180,716. METHODS: Measurements of height and weight were performed during the nationwide conscript health investigation. BMI was calculated and overweight was defined as BMI > or = 25.00 kg/m2 and obesity as BMI > or = 30.00 kg/m2. Besides height and weight data, information on place of residence of the young men was used for the study. Chi-squared and Student's t-test were calculated to test group differences with respect to their statistical significance. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight increased from 10.9% to 15.5% and of obesity from 1.8% to 4.9% during the observation period. A significant regional trend was found with the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Eastern part of Austria (p < 0.001). BMI was 22.12 +/- 0.34 kg/m2 (mean +/- SD) in 1985 and showed a significant increase (p < 0.001) during the study period to 22.71 +/- 0.25 kg/m2. CONCLUSION: Overweight and obesity increased remarkably in young males in Austria between the years 1985 and 2000. The steepest increase was found in the prevalence of obesity and in the Western part of Austria. A significant regional difference could be documented during the whole study period.

The impact of the weight status on subjective symptomatology of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a cross-cultural comparison between Brazilian and Austrian women.

Group differences in symptomatology and symptom perception of young women ageing between 18 and 32 years suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) were tested according to cultural background and weight status. In detail 31 Austrian women, living in Carinthia, Austria, and 102 Brazilian women, living in São Paulo, Brazil, were enrolled in the present study. All participants suffered from diagnosed PCOS. The prevalence of hirsutism, infertility, menstrual disturbances and overweight/obesity and their individual impact on health related quality of life were analysed. Furthermore the impact of weight status (BMI) on symptom perception was tested. It turned out, that the Brazilian sample exhibited higher prevalence of PCOS symptoms and these symptoms had a more negative impact on quality of life. The only exception was body weight. Although significantly leaner, the Austrian women showed a higher Cronin score of body weight than their Brazilian counterparts. The results of the present study may indicate that in western industrialized societies the fear of overweight is much more prevalent than in a developing country such as Brazil and thus it has more influence on the quality of life than all the other symptoms.

Advanced maternal age is not only associated with newborn somatometrics but also with the mode of delivery.

BACKGROUND: At both extremes of reproductive phase, female cycles are characterized by a high rate of anovulation, and pregnancies at these phases of reproductive span are considered as risky for obstetric complications, poor pregnancy outcome and increased maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. AIM: To analyse if this high rate of anovulation may be interpreted as an adaptation to poor pregnancy outcome. Therefore the association patterns between maternal age and newborn somatometric characteristics and the mode of delivery were tested. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The associations between the age as well as somatic characteristics such as pre-pregnancy weight, stature, pelvic dimensions and pregnancy weight gain of 10 765 women aged between 12 and 49 years (mean = 25.3, SD = 5.7) and newborn body dimensions and the mode of delivery were analysed. RESULTS: With increasing maternal age, maternal and newborn body dimensions increased significantly. Although extremely young mothers were significantly shorter and lighter and exhibited the significantly lowest pre-pregnancy weight status and the narrowest pelvic dimensions, they showed the lowest rates of caesarean sections (13.1%) and, unexpectedly, not the highest rate of low weight newborns (<2,500 g). In contrast, for mothers older than 35 years the highest rate of low weight newborns (3.7%) and the highest rate of macrosom newborns (<4,000 g) were found. Furthermore, mothers older than 40 years experienced the significantly highest rate of caesarean section (31.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Special risks were found for mothers older than 35 years, so the lower rates of ovulatory cycles during this phase of life may be interpreted as an adaptation to increased risks for complications and poor pregnancy outcome.

Use of the oral contraceptive pill by Austrian adolescents with emphasis on the age of onset, side effects, compliance and lifestyle.

The present study investigated the use of the oral contraceptive pill in 880 Austrian high school girls. All participants filled in a questionnaire on lifestyle and menarche. Furthermore, subjects on the pill were asked about their preparation, age at first use, reasons why they take it, side effects and oral contraceptive compliance. All 139 subjects on the pill used low dose monophasic preparations. The girls started the pill at a mean age of 16.0 +/- 0.9 years for contraceptive and therapeutic reasons. The most commonly noted side effects were weight gain, an increase in breast size, fatigue and depression. The results also indicate that most users comply sufficiently. Regarding lifestyle, it can be stated that there is a correlation between the use of the pill and smoking, the frequency of consuming alcoholic drinks and being physically active.

Changes in fat distribution (WHR) and body weight across the menstrual cycle.

The aim of the present study was to analyze changes of the body weight and waist-to-hip ratio during menstrual cycle, with special respect to changes around ovulation. 32 healthy young women ranging in age between 19 and 30 years (X = 23.5) were enrolled in the study. Beside a basal anthropometric investigation (stature, weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, fat percentage, waist to hip ratio) the probands were instructed to take body weight, waist and hip circumference and basal body temperature every morning by themselves over a whole cycle. Three proband groups according to cycle length (average, short and long) were defined and eight hormonal contraceptive users served as controls. It turned out that body weight increased only slightly during the second cycle half in all proband groups. A marked decrease of WHR around the time of ovulation was found in the proband group who exhibited average cycle length and a successful ovulation could be assumed. Evolutionary and physiological explanations are discussed.

[Significance of body weight status for bone density in the elderly and very old]. / Zur Bedeutung des Gewichtsstatus für die Knochendichte bei Betagten und Hochbetagten.

Reduced bone density and osteoporosis are significant health problems and contributors to disability and mortality among older women and men. Therefore the decline of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) are aspects of ageing with great medical and social significance. In recent years a low body weight was declared to be an important risk factor for the development of osteoporosis. In the present study the impact of weight status, defined by the categories of the WHO, on BMC of the whole body and BMD of the proximal femur end, determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), were studied in 77 female and 62 male probands aged between 60 and 92 years (x = 71.7 yrs). With increasing weight status (BMI categories), BMC and BMD increased significantly (p < 0.001). This was true of both sexes. Even moderate overweight women and men (BMI 25.0-29.99) showed a significantly higher bone density than their normal weight counterparts (BMI < 25.0). In the present study a marked positive impact of body weight on bone density of old-aged women and men could be shown.

Body composition characteristics are associated with the bone density of the proximal femur end in middle- and old-aged women and men.

OBJECTIVES: In the present study the associations between bone density of the proximal femur end and weight status, fat distribution patterns (FDI) and body composition parameters i.e. amount of body fat and lean body mass were tested in a sample of old aged women and men. METHODS: In 77 healthy women ranging in age from 60 to 92 years (x=71.8 years) and 62 healthy men ranging in age from 60 to 86 years (x=71.5 years) the bone mineral density (BMD of the proximal femur end and the body composition parameters absolute fat mass, relative fat mass, lean body mass and bone mineral content were estimated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Additionally, the weight status (body mass index, BMI) and the FDI were calculated. The bone density of the proximal femur end was correlated with the absolute fat mass and the lean body mass as well as with the BMI and the FDI. RESULTS: BMD correlated in females significantly positively with parameters of body composition, in males no significant correlations between fat mass (absolute and relative) and BMD as well as BMD/stature was found. Furthermore, it was shown that the weight status (BMI; r(2)=0.13, P<0.0003 in males and r(2)=0.27, P<0.000 in females), and the lean body mass (r(2)=0.21, P<0.001 in males, r(2)=0.36, P<0.004 in females) were associated significantly positively with the BMD of the proximal femur end in both sexes. The absolute fat mass had a significant impact on BMD in the female subsample only (r(2)=0.24, P<0.000). CONCLUSIONS: A lower weight status and a low amount of lean body mass, indicating not only lack of biomechanical forces of the proximal femur end, but also a lack of physical activity can be assumed to be associated increased bone loss and the development of osteoporosis in both sexes. An association between low amount of fat tissue and decreased BMD was especially found in women and may be due to the reduced conversion rates from androgens to estrogens in a low amount of fat tissue.

Body composition characteristics and body fat distribution in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Body composition, fat distribution and bone mineral density were examined in lean women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and compared with body composition and fat distribution characteristics of weight-matched lean controls. Ten women with PCOS and a body mass index (BMI) below 25.00 (kg/m(2)) and 10 healthy women with a BMI below 25.00 (kg/m(2)) matched for age and weight and BMI as controls were enrolled in this study. Body composition and bone density were measured by dual-energy- x-ray-absorptiometry and fat distribution patterns were calculated. Although matched for age, weight and BMI, lean PCOS patients showed a significantly higher amount of body fat and lower amount of lean body mass than the controls. The majority of PCOS patients showed an intermediate or android kind of fat distribution. Only 30% of the lean PCOS patients corresponded to the definition of gynoid fat distribution while this was true of all lean controls.

Sexual dimorphism in body composition, weight status and growth in prepubertal school chiildren from rural areas of eastern Austria.

Sexual dimorphism in stature, weight status and body composition were analyzed in a sample of 398 prepubertal children (213 girls, 185 boys) ageing between 7 and 10. Furthermore the prevalence of overweight was tested. Body composition parameters were determined using TBF 105 Body composition analyzer according to BIA-method. Highly significant sex differences in body composition were observed (p < 0.001). In contrast, stature, weight and BMI showed no significant differences between the two sexes. Nevertheless, a significant higher portion (p < 0.05) of girls (29%) corresponded to the definition overweight according to ASNS (Austrian Survey of Nutritional Status), while only 20% of the boys felt into the category overweight. The results of the present study showed not only significant sex differences in body composition, especially in fat mass, long before puberty onset, but also a significantly higher prevalence of overweight among prepubertal girls in comparison to prepubertal boys.

The polycystic ovary syndrome--a medical condition but also an important psychosocial problem.

PCOS, the leading cause of anovulatory infertility that affects up to one fifth of the female population, is a complex chronic disease of genetic as well as environmental determination, but still unclear etiology. Besides of infertility, PCOS leads to menstrual dysfunctions, hirsutism and obesity--symptoms that are known to cause profound psychosocial distress. The present paper review the problematic of etiology and symptom expression of PCOS, which is not only a disease needing medical treatment but also a psychosocial problem for the affected women. PCOS may not only coinduced by psychosocial factors, the main symptoms of PCOS such as infertility, menstrual dysfunctions, hirsutism and obesity cause by themselves increased psychosocial stress.

Fat distribution patterns in young amenorrheic females.

The present study analyzes body fat distribution, a well-known and important indicator of reproductive capability, in young women between 18 and 28 years of age (mean=23.3 years) suffering from secondary amenorrhea and therefore temporary infertility resulting from self-starvation. Body composition parameters estimated by means of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and the fat distribution index, indicating body shape, were compared with those of healthy controls. Although members of the infertile, amenorrheic group exhibited dramatically low body weight and total amount of body fat, and therefore a marked negative energy balance in comparison with the healthy controls, the sex-specific fat distribution patterns did not differ between infertile and fertile young women. In contrast, the lower the weight and total fat amount, the more gynoid the fat distribution, even in infertile women. This observation may be interpreted in an evolutionary sense: Our ancestors had to cope with frequent food shortages, even starvation, and therefore lengthy periods of negative energy balance. In addition to pregnancy and lactation, temporary infertility as a result of long-term negative energy balance was not an uncommon phenomenon in female life histories. Nevertheless, after a time of plenty, reproductive function recovered, and therefore the gynoid fat distribution patterns in temporarily infertile young women may be interpreted as signal of reproductive capability, which resumes after a time of surplus.

Impact of maternal anthropometry and smoking on neonatal birth weight.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and maternal smoking habits on neonatal birth weight. We reviewed 10,240 normal singleton term pregnancies between 1985 and 1995 at the University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vienna. Birth weights of infants of overweight smokers were greater than those of smokers in general and similar to birth weights of nonsmokers, but smoking did have a fetal growth-retarding effect in overweight smoking mothers. Infants of underweight mothers who increased their daily cigarette consumption during pregnancy had significantly lowest birth weight. Our results suggest that the negative effects of smoking during pregnancy cannot be mitigated by a higher pre-pregnancy BMI and/or an improved weight gain during pregnancy. Especially the infants of underweight mothers benefit from their mothers' decision to cease smoking.

Differential reproductive success and body size in !Kung San people from northern Namibia.

The associations patterns between reproductive success, measured by the total number of offspring, number of living offspring and number of dead offspring, and parental body size, estimated by stature, body weight and Body mass index, were tested in 65 female and 103 male members of a !Kung San population ageing between 25 and 40 years (x = 30.2 yr.) from northern Namibia. In both sexes a significant interaction between fertility patterns and body dimensions was found. Nevertheless, the association patterns differed markedly between the two sexes. While in males tallness and an improved weight status was associated significantly with a higher number of surviving offspring, smaller and lighter females had significantly more surviving children. In males a directional selection towards increased stature and better weight status is in accordance with the well known secular trend of acceleration. In females first of all the postpartum changes in body composition and body weight, resulting from exhausting infant feeding practices seem to support the maternal depletion hypothesis.

Hysterectomy is associated with postmenopausal body composition characteristics.

The impact of hysterectomy without oophorectomy and with no malignant purpose on body composition and postmenopausal weight gain was tested in 184 Viennese females aged between 47 and 57 years (mean 52.9). Hysterectomized women were significantly heavier than those who experienced a spontaneous menopause (controls). The amount of fat tissue, especially in the abdominal region, was significantly higher in hysterectomized women. Furthermore, they were reported to have experienced a significantly higher weight gain since menopause (9.1 versus 6.0 kg). No significant differences in bone mass were found. Psychological stress factors and hormonal changes following hysterectomy are discussed as possible causes of these differences.