Vellore Birth Cohort

The original study (1969-73) had five main objectives: (i) to study the relationship of birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA) to infant mortality and the incidence of congenital defects; (ii) to study maternal blood pressure before and during pregnancy and the incidence of toxaemia; (iii) to assess the effects of parental consanguinity on reproductive outcomes; (iv) to examine the impact of family planning programmes on fertility and (v) to estimate rates of foetal loss, and neonatal, infant and early childhood mortality.1 The subsequent follow-up studies focused on the effects of prenatal factors BW and GA on physical growth and development and mortality during childhood and adolescence.

For the follow-up in young adulthood (1998-2002), the main objective was to study glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and insulin secretion and a range of cardiovascular risk factors (body composition, blood pressure and plasma lipid concentrations) in relation to parental size, neonatal size and childhood growth.

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries India
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 10,000 to 19,999
Ages 20 to 39
Brain related measures
Funtional rating
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Cardiovascular|Hearing and Vision|Musculoskeletal|Reproductive
Biological samples Blood
Genotyping Gene screening
Brain imaging
Brain banking
Lifestyle Alcohol|Dietary habits|Physical activity|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Family circumstances|Housing and accommodation|Income and finances|Occupation and employment
Health service utilisation
Institute names Christian Medical College, Vellore
Current Sample Sizes 10,000 to 19,999

age at recruitment 26 -32
last updated
recruitment period 1969-1973
estimated current sample size number value 2,218
cohort acronym
start date 1969-1973
pi Dr Antonisamy, Dr Vasan and Professor Fall
website https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/38/3/663/682164/Cohort-Profile-The-1969-73-Vellore-birth-cohort
contact details Department of Biostatistics
Christian Medical College
Vellore – 632002
Tamil Nadu, India
abstract  The follow-up in young adulthood (1998-2002), the main objective was to study glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and insulin secretion and a range of cardiovascular risk factors (body composition, blood pressure and plasma lipid concentrations) in relation to parental size, neonatal size and childhood growth.
funders  US National Center for Health Statistics
contact email PI email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]Contact Email: [email protected]
contact phone number ‘+91 416 2262703 (off.); +91 416 2284205
estimated current sample size 0 to 4,999
sample sizes 10,670