Length of Gestation and Depressive Symptoms at Age 60 Years

Background: A non-optimal foetal environment, reflected in smaller birth size and shorter duration of gestation, is a risk factor for compromised health later in life.

Aims: To examine whether smaller birth size and shorter gestation predict depressive symptoms.

Method: A total of 1371 members of a cohort born between 1934 and 1944 at term (259-294 days'gestation) in Helsinki, Finland, completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) at an average age of 61.5 years (BDI) and 63.4 years (BDI and CES-D).

Results: Gestational length predicted depressive symptoms linearly and independently of gender and birth weight: per day decrease in gestational length, depressive symptoms scores increased by 0.8-0.9% (95% CI 0.2-1.4, P<0.009). Weight, length and head circumference at birth showed no linear association with depression, adjusted for gender and gestational length. The results did not change when further controlled for socio-economic characteristics at birth and in adulthood, age and body mass index in adulthood.

Conclusions: Susceptibility to depressive symptoms may relate to shorter length of gestation.