Association of large for gestational age with cardiovascular metabolic risks: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2023-05, Vol.31 (5), p.1255-1269
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yiyuan, Liu, Peihao, Zhou, Wei, Hu, Jingmei, Cui, Linlin, Chen, Zi‐Jiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Birth Weight; Blood pressure; Body Mass Index; Child, Preschool; Cross-sectional studies; Diabetes; Female; Gestational Age; Glucose; High density lipoprotein; Humans; Hypertension; Lipids; Meta-analysis; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - complications; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Overweight; Overweight - complications; Puberty; Risk factors; Systematic review; Weight Gain
• ISSN: 1930-7381; 1930-739X
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.23701

Objective The aim of this study was to clarify the relationships among large for gestational age (LGA) and cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify studies on LGA and outcomes of interest, including BMI, blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and lipid profiles. Data were independently extracted by two reviewers. A meta‐analysis was performed using a random‐effects model. The Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale and funnel graph were used to assess the quality and publication bias, respectively. Results Overall, 42 studies involving 841,325 individuals were included. Compared with individuals born appropriate for gestational age, individuals born LGA had higher odds of overweight and obesity (odds ratios [OR] = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.31‐1.59), type 1 diabetes (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.15‐1.43), hypertension (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.51), and metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.43, 95%; CI: 1.05‐1.96). No significant difference was found in hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia. Stratified analyses showed that, compared with individuals born appropriate for gestational age, individuals born LGA had higher odds for overweight and obesity from toddler age to puberty age (toddler age: OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.22‐3.70; preschool: OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.55‐2.12; school age: OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.09‐2.14; puberty: OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.11‐1.77). Conclusions LGA is associated with increased odds of obesity and metabolic syndrome later in life. Future studies should focus on elucidating the potential mechanisms and identifying risk factors.