Study of Cord Blood Lipid Levels and Its Correlation with Newborn’s Birth Weight and Gestational Age

Author(s): Joshi Siddhartha J, Nidhi Rai Gupta, Heloise Stanley

Background and objectives: The genesis of atherosclerotic lesions which is a major cardiovascular risk factor starts in the early life. If the premature development of cardiovascular risk factors can be anticipated during childhood, cardiovascular events can be prevented effectively by taking appropriate measures. The aim of the present study was to know cord blood lipid levels and its correlation with newborn’s birth weight and gestational age.

Methods: Present study was conducted in the department of paediatrics, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Mangolpuri, Delhi, from December 2019 to June 2020. In this observational cross sectional study, 105 newborn babies whose gestational age was between 28 to <42 weeks were included with due consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria as per study protocol.

Results: Cord blood lipid levels were significantly high (P <0.05) in low birth weight babies. Cord blood lipid levels were high (p<0.05) in preterm except high density lipoprotein Cord blood levels were significantly high (P <0.05) in small for gestational age babies. There was no association of lipid profile with gender (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Lipid levels were significantly high in low birth weight babies, preterm babies and small for gestational age babies. Hence, low birth weight babies, small for gestational age babies and preterm babies should be closely monitored for lipid related disorders and co-morbidities.