The physiological significance of body weight at birth for subsequent age periods of life

Aim. To study the significance of the features of early development of a child’s body, estimated on the basis of the anthropometric data at birth for subsequent age periods. Methods. The study involved practically healthy 1-5 year students with normal birth weight, 439 males and 112 females, mean age was 21.13±±0.08 years. Measurements of systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure were performed using an automated tonometer, heart rate variability was studied on a computer electrocardiography device in accordance with the generally accepted guidelines. Conducted was a multiple regression analysis, in which as an independent random variable were the age and height of the mother, the sex of the newborn, the serial number of delivery, and as a dependent variable - the birth body weight. Results. Established was a significant correlation between birth body weight and body length (β=0.163; p=0.000), maternal age (β=0.137; p=0.001), month (season) of birth (β=-0.2012; p=0.003) and sex (β=-0.1009; p=0.003) of the child. Noted was a correlation of the respiration rate with the body weight at birth both during the semester period (r=-0.2; p=0.05) and during the examination period (r=0.26; p=0.03). Conclusion. During the examination period the correlation between birth weight and the values of functional parameters (respiratory rate, tidal volume, arterial blood pressure) of the students increases, therefore, birth body weight among the surveyed students was a predictor of the functional state of the respiratory system, cardio-vascular and autonomic nervous systems.

birth body weight, the functional state of the organism