American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council
Determinants of Early Neonatal Weight Loss in Historical Swiss Maternity Hospital Records
By Nagaroor A, Le Vu M, Matthes KL and 1 others.
Abstract
Objective
Early neonatal weight loss is an aspect of neonatal adaptation influenced by maternal, nutritional, and perinatal factors. Determinants of early neonatal weight loss in historical populations remain poorly understood. This study investigated determinants of neonatal weight loss as an early postnatal adaptation phenotype using Swiss maternity hospital records from 1905 to 1924, including the influence of the First World War and the 1918-1920 influenza pandemic.
Methods
Birth records from Lausanne Maternity Hospital (1905-1924) were analyzed. Maximum percentage neonatal weight loss was calculated during hospitalization, excluding implausible trajectories (> 20% loss) and weight gains. Associations with feeding type, historical exposures, and maternal health were assessed using multivariable linear and logistic regression for maximum and high (> 10%) weight loss, respectively. Stratified and sensitivity analyses assessed effect heterogeneity and model robustness.