3 research outputs found
Piccolipi\uf9, a multicenter birth cohort in Italy: protocol of the study.
Background: The fetal and infant life are periods of rapid development, characterized by high susceptibility to
exposures. Birth cohorts provide unique opportunities to study early-life exposures in association with child
development and health, as well as, with longer follow-up, the early life origin of adult diseases. Piccolipi\uf9 is
an Italian birth cohort recently set up to investigate the effects of environmental exposures, parental conditions and
social factors acting during pre-natal and early post-natal life on infant and child health and development. We describe
here its main characteristics.
Methods/design: Piccolipi\uf9 is a prospective cohort of expected 3000 newborns, who will be recruiting in six maternity
units of five Italian cities (Florence, Rome, Trieste, Turin and Viareggio) since October 2011. Mothers are contacted
during pregnancy or at delivery and are offered to participate in the study. Upon acceptance, their newborns are
recruited at birth and followed up until at least 18 years of age. At recruitment, the mothers donate a blood sample
and complete a baseline questionnaire. Umbilical cord blood, pieces of umbilical cord and heel blood spots are also
collected. Postnatal follow-up currently occurs at 6, 12, and 24 months of age using on-line or postal self administered
questionnaire; further questionnaires and medical examinations are envisaged. Questionnaires collect information on
several factors, including mother\u2019s and/or child\u2019s environmental exposures, anthropometric measures, reproductive
factors, diet, supplements, medical history, cognitive development, mental health and socioeconomic factors.
Health promotion materials are also offered to parents.
Discussion: Piccolipi\uf9 will broaden our understanding of the contribution of early-life factors to infant and child
health and development. Several hypotheses on the developmental origins of health can be tested or piloted
using the data collected from the Piccolipi\uf9 cohort. By pooling these data with those collected by other existing
birth cohorts it will be possible to validate previous findings and to study rare exposures and outcomes