Table 6

Comparison of basic characteristics between the HELIX entire cohort (n=31 472), the subcohort (n=1301) and the child panel study (n=157)

Entire cohortSubcohortPanel study*
(n=31 472)(n=1301)(n=157)
Child characteristics
  Sex (%)
   Male51.254.7†56.1
   Female48.845.4†43.9
  Birth weight, g (SD)3372 (547)3379 (508)3346 (479)
  Gestational age, weeks (SD)39.7 (1.8)39.6 (1.7)39.5 (1.6)
Family characteristics
  Maternal age, years (SD)29.6 (5.2)30.8 (4.9)†31.0 (4.9)‡
  Maternal education (%)
   Low22.76.8†6.8
   Middle25.734.5†34.5
   High51.651.8†51.8
  Maternal BMI* (%)
   Underweight/normal weight58.660.958.1
   Overweight25.624.425.8
   Obesity15.814.716.1
  Country of origin of parents (%)
   Both from other country2111.1†5.2‡
   One parent from other country6.37.5†4.5‡
   Both parents from country of cohort65.781.4†90.3‡
  Parity (%)
   0 previous pregnancies50.745.9†42.4
  ≥1 previous pregnancies49.354.1†57.6
  Maternal smoking during pregnancy (%)
   No87.983.1†85.3
   Yes12.114.8†14.7
  • *BMI grouped according to WHO categories for underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30 kg/m2).

  • †P<0.05 comparing the subcohort (n=1301) with the entire cohort.

  • ‡P<0.10 comparing the child panel study with non-panel subcohort children in the same cohorts (excluding MoBa).

  • HELIX, Human Early Life Exposome; MoBa, Norwegian Mother and Child  Cohort Study.