Table 2 Age-adjusted characteristics of this Nurses’ Health Study cohort in 1992, stratified by own birthweight
Variable<2.5 kg2.5–3.175 kg3.2–3.85 kg3.9–4.54 kg>4.54 kgNot sure/data missing
Women (n)761421 49931 0367614161817 696
Mean age (years)58.758.758.758.758.858.8
Born ⩾2 weeks premature* (%)35.92.80.70.30.31.3
History of diabetes (%)6.33.73.74.04.43.7
Maternal history of diabetes† (%)8.98.49.211.817.410.0
Oral contraceptive use (%)48.948.247.747.246.945.1
Current post-menopausal hormone use‡ (%)35.035.135.434.131.832.4
Mean age at first birth (years)22.822.822.922.822.723.0
History of breastfeeding own children (%)32.730.629.230.430.733.0
Ever smoked (%)54.155.156.058.660.556.6
BMI at age 18 (kg/m2)21.221.121.521.922.521.2
High socioeconomic status at age 16¶ (%)26.127.526.924.619.621.8
  • *Proportion of participants on the 1992 questionnaire who indicated that they were born ⩾2 weeks premature. †Proportion of participants on the 1982 questionnaire who indicated that their mother had received a diagnosis of diabetes. ‡Current post-menopausal hormone use among post-menopausal women. ¶Father’s occupation was manager or professional when the participant was 16 years of age.

  • BMI, body mass index.