A new dimension to the Barker hypothesis: Low birthweight and susceptibility to renal disease

Abstract

Background. There is an epidemic of renal failure among Aborigines in the Australia's Northern Territory. The incidence is more than 1000 per million, and is doubling every three to four years. We evaluated the relationship of birthweight to renal disease in adults in one high-risk community. Methods. We screened more than 80% of people in the community for renal disease, using the urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR, g/mol) as the marker, and reviewed records for birthweights. Results. Birthweights were available with increasing frequency for people born after 1956. In 317 adults aged 20 to 38 years at screening, the mean birthweight (SD) was 2.712 ± 0.4 kg, and 35% had been low birthweight..