Short summary

The cohort expect to detect risk children in terms of exercise, diet, alcohol and smoking especially for preventive measures, to find causality between biological and chemical substances, diseases and lifestyle. It is expected to detect specific health problems in children from ethnic groups and study the causes. Furthermore the cohort will elucidate the relationship between infections in childhood and special circumstances related to pregnancy, childbirth, social and environmental conditions.

Rationale

In collaboration between Odense University Hospital, Odense Municipality, the University of Southern Denmark and the Psychiatri in the Region of Southern Denmark it is our intension to monitor future birth cohorts. The aim is to provide new knowledge about children's social, environmental and hereditary factors which either promote health or otherwise cause failure to thrive, somatic, and mental disease. The cohorts will provide new knowledge and thus be helpful in order to initiate preventive and health measures.

Description of the cohort

The Odense Child Cohort is a prospective observational birth cohort. Briefly, newly pregnant women residing in the Municipality of Odense, Denmark between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012 were recruited at a voluntary information meeting about ultrasound examinations at gestational age (GA) 8-10, at first antenatal midwife visit (GA 15-16), or at the ultrasound examination at Odense University Hospital (GA 12-13). Of the eligible population of 6,707 pregnant women, 4,017 who were informed declined while 2,874 (43%) enrolled in the cohort and 2,549 children are currently participating in the project.

The purpose of the project is to provide in-depth information about the interaction between maternal and child health and the impact of social and environmental factors in order to improve child health and wellbeing. Information is collected from questionnaires, medical record and biological material from parents and child. In addition, information is collected from health visitors, general practitioners, nurseries and school records. Odense Municipality is well suited for this purpose as the population resamples the general population in Denmark. The cohort includes a number of sub-projects e.g. effects of exposure to environmental pollutants, lactation, incidence of infections and allergies in toddler's age, dental health and the importance of vitamin D for pregnancy and toddler age. The language development in infants is examined with emphasis on socially disadvantaged families and ethnic groups. Similarly factors that affect the development of ADHD is being investigated. More sub-projects are emerging on the development of health and opposite failure to thrive, including the importance of exercise and diet throughout childhood.

Odense Child Cohort is financially supported by the Municipality of Odense, the Odense University Hospital, the Region of Southern Denmark, OPEN (Odense Patient Data Exploratory Network), the Psychiatry in the Region of Southern Denmark, The Health Foundation, The Ronald McDonald Child Foundation and many small grants.

Data and biological material

Data will be collected from four cohort's pregnancies and births (2010-2013) in the municipality of Odense, corresponding to approx. 3.000 babies born in a similar number of families. During pregnancy where will be collected data concerning social status, maternal physical data and lifestyle, paternal data and lifestyle and other factors (e.g. sun, pollutans), as well as blood from the expecting mother in gestational week 10-16 and gestational week 28 and blood or hair samples from the father.

Biological material will be collected during childbirth and at the age of 3 month, 18 month, 3 years, 5 years, 7 years, 9 years, 12 years, 15 years and 18 years.

The collection of data will take place at H.C. Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, where other examinations also will take place such as measuring of height and weight, lung function tests etc.

The cohort expects to collect approx. 24.000 blood samples over a time period of 18 years, with the largest amount in the early childhood.

Subprojects

Lack of Vitamin D
Infections during early Childhood
Language Development
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Chemicals' influence on development of overweigth and allergies
The difference in use of antenatal care
Epigenetics
Genes-enviroment-social interaction in the development ADHD
Breastfeeding - social and biological factors' influence on breastfeeding and lactation length
Detecting alcohol consumption
Dental health
Pediatric reference intervals
Faith and spirituality's impact on families' health
Association between child and maternal health
Parasites in stool samples

Collaborating researchers and departments

Odense University Hospital

• Hospital Director Judith Mølgaard

H.C. Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital

• Professor Steffen Husby, DMSc
• Asscociate Professor and Head of Department of Pediatrics Arne Høst, MD, DMSc
• Associate Professor and Leader of Vitamin D group Henrik T. Christensen, MD, PhD
• Visiting Researcher Signe Sparre Beck-Nielsen, MD, PhD
• Clinical Associate Professor Niels Fisker, MD
• Signe Bruun, MD
• Professor Susanne Halken

OPEN Odense Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital

• Professor and Manager Torben Barington, DMSc

Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital

• Clinical Associate Professor Jan Stener Jørgensen, MD
• Head of Midwifery Anette Lund Frederiksen
• Professor Ellen Aagaard Nøhr

Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital

• Dorte Glintborg, MD
• Marianne S. Andersen, MD 

Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital

• Professor Lars Melholt
• Professor Lene Christiansen, MSc, PhD 

Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark

• Professor and Research Leader Tina Kold Jensen
• Associate Professor Helle Raun Andersen
• Associate Professor Christine Dalgård
• Professor and Program Manager Greet Schoeters 

Department of Language and Communication, University of Southern Denmark

• Professor Dorthe Bleses 

Research Unit of Clinical Alcohol Research, University of Southern Denmark

• Associate Professor Lene Bjerregaard 

Department of Dentistry, Aarhus University

• Professor Dorte Haubek 

Odense Municipality

• Senior Hospital Physician Susanne Buhl
• Consultant Anders Linde Seekjær
• Dentist and Deputy Birgit Klausen
• Social Consultant Lene Anette Norberg
• Chief Psychologist Birgitte Madsen 

Mental Health Services, Region of Southern Denmark

• Medical Director Anders Meinert
• Professor and Head of Research Unit Niels Bilenberg, MD, PhD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwich Park Hospital

• Professor and Consultant Ronald Lamont, BSc, MB, ChB, DM, FRCOG

Department of Environmental Risk and Health, Belgium

• Professor and Program Manager of VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research) Greet Schoeters

Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen

• Associate Professor and Head of Department Christian Mølgaard, MD, PhD

Publications associated with the project

Pregnancy and Birth Cohort Resources in Europe: a Large Oppertunity for Aetiological Child Health Research; Larsen PS, Kamper-Jørgensen M, Adamson A, Barros H, Bonde JP, Breschianini S, Brophy S, Casas M, Charles MA, Devereux G, Eggesbø M, Fantini MP, Frey U, Gehring U, Grazuleviciene R, Henriksen TB, Hertz-Picciotto I, Heude B, Hryhorzcuk DO, Inskip H, Jaddoe VW, Lawlor DA, Ludvigsson J, Kelleher C, Kiess W, Koletzko B, Kuehni CE, Kull I, Kyhl HB, Magnus P, Momas I, Murray D, Pekkanen J, Polanska K, Porta D, Poulsen G, Richiardi L, Roeleveld N, Skovgaard AM, Sram RJ, Strandberg-Larsen K, Thijs C, Van Eijsden M, Wright J, Vrijheid M, Andersen AM; Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. Jul 2013, 27, 393-414.

Parity and tanned white skin as novel predictors of vitamin d status in early pregnancy: A population-based cohort study; Andersen L, Abrahamsen B, Dalgard C, Kyhl H, Beck-Nielsen S, Frost-Nielsen M, Jorgensen J, Barington T, Christesen H.; Clinical endocrinology. 2013 Sep;79(3):333-41

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Serum of Pregnant Woman: Levels, Correlations, and Potential Health Implications; Vorkamp K, Nielsen F, Kyhl HB, Husby S, Nielsen LB, Barington T, Andersson AM, Jensen TK. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2014 Jan 24.

Current exposure of 200 pregnant Danish women to phthalates, parabens and phenols; Tefre de Renzy-Martin K, Frederiksen H, Christensen J, Kyhl HB, Andersson AM, Husby S, Barington T, Main KM, Jensen TK.; Reproduction 2014 Mar 2;147(4):443-53.

Human urinary excretion of non-persistent environmental chemicals: an overview of Danish data collected 2006-2012, Frederiksen H, Jensen TK, Jørgensen N, Kyhl HB, Husby, Skakkebæk NE, Main K, Juul A, Andersson AM; Reproduction 2014 Mar 4;147(4):555-65.

Diagnosis of preeclampsia with soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1/placental growth factor ratio: an inter-assay comparison; Andersen LB, Frederiksen-Møller B, Havelund KW, Dechend R, Jørgensen JS, Jensen BL, Nielsen J, Lykkedegn S, Barington T, Christesen HT.; Journal of the American Society of Hypertension. J Am Soc Hypertens. 2015 Feb; 9(2):86-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jash.2014.11.008. Epub 2014 Dec 3.

The Odense Child Cohort: Aims, Design and Cohort Profile; Kyhl HB, Jensen TK, Barington T, Buhl S, Norberg LA, Jørgensen JS, Jensen DFG, Christesen HT, Lamont RF, Husby S.; Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2015 Mar 10. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12183.

Association between perfluorinated compound exposure and miscarriage in Danish pregnant women; Jensen, T.K, Andersen, L.B, Kyhl, H.B, Nielsen, F, Christesen, H.T, Grandjean, P.; Plos One. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0123496. April, 7, 2015. 

Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased risk of first-trimester miscarriage in the Odense Child Cohort; Andersen LB, Jørgensen JS, Jensen TK, Dalgård C, Barington T, Nielsen J, Beck-Nielsen SS, Husby S, Abrahamsen B, Lamont RF, Christesen HT.Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Sep; 102(3):633-8. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.103655.

Early pregnancy angiogenic markers and miscarriage: A Odense Child Cohort study; Andersen LB, Dechend R, Karumanchi SA, Nielsen J, Joergensen JS, Jensen TK, Christesen HT. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Jun 8.

Using text messaging to obtain weekly data on infant feeding in a Danish birth cohort resulted in high participation rates; Bruun S, Wedderkopp N, Mølgaard C, Kyhl HB, Zachariassen G, Husby S. Acta Paediatr. 2016 Jun;105(6):648-54. doi: 10.1111/apa.13382

Prenatal exposure to phthalates and anogenital distance of the male infants in a low exposed Danish cohort; Jensen TK, Frederiksen H, Kyhl HB, Lassen TH, Swan SH, Bornehag CG, Skakkebæk NE, Main K, Vesterholm Jensen D, Husby S, Andersson AM. Jul 2016.

Validation of Hospital Discharge Diagnoses for Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy; Luef BM, Andersen LB, Renäult KM, Nohr EA, Jørgensen JS, Christesen HT. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2016 Aug 26.

Prediction of preeclampsia with angiogenic biomarkers. Results from the prospective Odense Child Cohort; Andersen LB, Dechend R, Jørgensen JS, Luef BM, Nielsen J, Barington T, Christesen HT. Hypertens Pregnancy. 2016 Aug;35(3):405-19. doi: 10.3109/10641955.2016.1167219.

Prenatal Triclosan Exposure and Anthropometric Measures including Anogenital Distance in Danish Infants; Lassen T.H., Frederiksen H, Kyhl H.B, Swan S.H, Main K.M, Andersson A, Lind DV, Husby S, Wohlfahrt-Veje C, Skakkebæk NE, Jensen TK. Environ Health Perspect. 2016 Aug;124(8):1261-8. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1409637

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and anogenital distance at 3 months of age in a Danish mother-child cohort; Lind DV, Priskorn L, Lassen TH, Nielsen F, Kyhl HB, Kristensen DM, Christesen HT, Jørgensen JS, Grandjean P, Jensen TK; Reprod Toxicol. 2016 Aug 31. pii: S0890-6238(16)30329-X. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.08.019

Inverse associations between cord vitamin D and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms: A child cohort study; Mossin MH, Aaby JB, Dalgård C, Lykkedegn S, Christesen HT*, Bilenberg N*(*both contributed equally). Austral N Zealand J Psychiatry. Sep 2016.08.30

Free Amino Acids in Human Milk and Associations With Maternal Anthropometry and Infant Growth; Larnkjær A, Bruun S, Pedersen D, Zachariassen G, Barkholt V, Agostoni C, Mølgaard C, Husby S, Michaelsen KF. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016 Sep;63(3):374-8. 

Association between prenatal exposure to perfluorinated compounds and symptoms of infections at age 1-4 years among 359 children in the Odense Cohort; Dalsager L, Christensen N, Husby S, Kyhl H, Nielsen F, Høst A, Grandjean P, Jensen TK. Environ Int. 2016 Sep 5;96:58-64. 

The association between angiogenic markers and fetal sex: Implications for preeclampsia research; Andersen LB, Jørgensen JS, Herse F, Andersen MS, Christesen HT, Dechend R. J Reprod Immunol Sep 2016; 177:24-29.

Vitamin D supplementation, cord 25-hydroxyvitamin D and birth weight: Findings from the Odense Child Cohort; Lykkedegn S, Beck-Nielsen SS, Sorensen GL, Andersen LB, Fruekilde PB, Nielsen J, Kyhl HB, Joergensen JS, Husby S, Christesen HT; Clin Nutr. 2016 Oct 27. pii: S0261-5614(16)31283-3. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2016.10.008

Maternal use of mild analgesic reduces anogenital distance in male offspring; a cohort study of 1,027 mother-child pairs; Lind DV, Main K, Kyhl HB, Swan SH, Kristensen D, Toppari J, Andersen HR, Skakkebæk NE, Jensen TK. Human Reprod Jan 2017.