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Background\ud Stillbirth is a critical public health issue worldwide. While the rates in high‐income countries are relatively low, there are persistent between‐country disparities.\ud \ud Objectives\ud To compare stillbirth rates and trends in Wales and the State of Western Australia (WA), Australia, and provide insights into any differences.\ud \ud Methods\ud In this international retrospective cohort study, we pooled population‐based data collections of all births ≥24 weeks’ gestation (excluding terminations for congenital anomalies) between 1993 and 2015, divided into six time periods. The stillbirth rate per 1000 births was estimated for each cohort in each time period. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses, adjusted for appropriateness of growth, socio‐economic status, maternal age, and multiple birth, were performed to evaluate the interaction between cohort and time period. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each time period and cohort were calculated.\ud \ud Results\ud There were 767 731 births (3725 stillbirths) in Wales and 648 373 (2431 stillbirths) in WA. The overall stillbirth rate declined by 15.9% over the study period in Wales (from 5.3 in 1993‐96 to 4.5 per 1000 births in 2013‐15; Ptrend < .01) but by 40.4% in WA (from 4.9 to 2.9 per 1000 births in WA; Ptrend < .01). Using 1993‐96 in WA as the reference group, the adjusted RRs for stillbirths at 37‐38 weeks' gestation in the most recent study period (2013‐15) were 0.85 (95% CI 0.64, 1.13) in Wales and 0.51 (95% CI 0.36, 0.73) in WA.\ud \ud Conclusions\ud The stillbirth rates between Wales and WA have widened in the last two decades (especially among late‐term births), although the absolute rates for both are distinctly higher than the best‐performing nations. While the differences may be partly explained by timing of birth and maternal life style behaviours such as smoking, it is important to identify and ameliorate the associated risk factors to support a reduction in preventable stillbirths.

The impact of many unfavorable childhood traits or diseases, such as low birth weight and mental disorders, is not limited to childhood and adolescence, as they are also associated with poor outcomes in adulthood, such as cardiovascular disease. Insight into the genetic etiology of childhood and adolescent traits and disorders may therefore provide new perspectives, not only on how to improve wellbeing during childhood, but also how to prevent later adverse outcomes. To achieve the sample sizes required for genetic research, the Early Growth Genetics (EGG) and EArly Genetics and Lifecourse Epidemiology (EAGLE) consortia were established. The majority of the participating cohorts are longitudinal population-based samples, but other cohorts with data on early childhood phenotypes are also involved. Cohorts often have a broad focus and collect(ed) data on various somatic and psychiatric traits as well as environmental factors. Genetic variants have been successfully identified for multiple traits, for example, birth weight, atopic dermatitis, childhood BMI, allergic sensitization, and pubertal growth. Furthermore, the results have shown that genetic factors also partly underlie the association with adult traits. As sample sizes are still increasing, it is expected that future analyses will identify additional variants. This, in combination with the development of innovative statistical methods, will provide detailed insight on the mechanisms underlying the transition from childhood to adult disorders. Both consortia welcome new collaborations. Policies and contact details are available from the corresponding authors of this manuscript and/or the consortium websites.

The impact of many unfavorable childhood traits or diseases, such as low birth weight and mental disorders, is not limited to childhood and adolescence, as they are also associated with poor outcomes in adulthood, such as cardiovascular disease. Insight into the genetic etiology of childhood and adolescent traits and disorders may therefore provide new perspectives, not only on how to improve wellbeing during childhood, but also how to prevent later adverse outcomes. To achieve the sample sizes required for genetic research, the Early Growth Genetics (EGG) and EArly Genetics and Lifecourse Epidemiology (EAGLE) consortia were established. The majority of the participating cohorts are longitudinal population-based samples, but other cohorts with data on early childhood phenotypes are also involved. Cohorts often have a broad focus and collect(ed) data on various somatic and psychiatric traits as well as environmental factors. Genetic variants have been successfully identified for multiple traits, for example, birth weight, atopic dermatitis, childhood BMI, allergic sensitization, and pubertal growth. Furthermore, the results have shown that genetic factors also partly underlie the association with adult traits. As sample sizes are still increasing, it is expected that future analyses will identify additional variants. This, in combination with the development of innovative statistical methods, will provide detailed insight on the mechanisms underlying the transition from childhood to adult disorders. Both consortia welcome new collaborations. Policies and contact details are available from the corresponding authors of this manuscript and/or the consortium websites., We are grateful to all families and participants who took part in these studies. We also acknowledge and appreciate the unique efforts of the research teams and practitioners contributing to the collection of this wealth of data. C. M. M. is supported by funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 721567. J. F. F. has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 633595 (DynaHEALTH) and 733206 (LifeCycle). R. M. F. and R. N. B. are supported by Sir Henry Dale Fellowship (Wellcome Trust and Royal Society grant: WT104150). D. L. C. is funded by the American Diabetes Association Grant 1-17-PDF-077. D. O. M-K. was supported by Dutch Science Organization (ZonMW-VENI Grant 916.14.023). N. M. W. is supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship (APP1104818). T. S. A. was partially funded by the Gene-Diet Interactions in Obesity (GENDINOB) project on behalf of GOYA male cohort data management and analyses and acknowledges the same. S. D. was supported by National Institute of Health Research. T. M. F. is supported by the European Research Council grant: 323195 SZ-245 50371-GLUCOSEGENES-FP7-IDEAS-ERC. The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research is an independent Research Center at the University of Copenhagen partially funded by an unrestricted donation from the Novo Nordisk Foundation (www.metabol.ku.dk).H.H.is funded by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Genomic Research. A. T. H. is supported by the Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Awards (WT098395), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator Award (NF-SI-0611-10219). J. Hebebrand received grants from German Research Society, German Ministry of Education and Research. M-F. H. is currently supported by an American Diabetes Association (ADA) Pathway Program Accelerator Early Investigator Award (1-15-ACE-26). S. J. is supported by Helse Vest no. 23929, Bergen Forskningsstiftelse and KG Jebsen Foundation and University of Bergen. J. K. has been supported by the Academy of Finland Research Professor program (grants 265240 & 263278). J. P. K. is funded by a University of Queensland Development Fellowship (UQFEL1718945). H. L. has served as a speaker for Eli-Lilly and Shire and has received research grants from Shire; all outside the submitted work. C. M. L is supported by the Li Ka Shing Foundation, WT-SSI/John Fell funds and by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, by Widenlife and NIH (5P50HD028138-27). S. E. M. was funded by an NHMRC Senior Reseach Fellowship (APP1103623). K. Panoutsopoulou is funded by a career development fellowship (grant 20308) and by the Wellcome Trust (WT098051). C. P. at UCL Institute of Child Health, with support from the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust and University College London. I. P. was funded in part by the Wellcome Trust (WT205915), and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research, the European Union FP7-IDEAS-ERC Advanced Grant (GEPIDIAB, ERC-AG -ERC-294785), and innovation programme (DYNAhealth, H2020-PHC-2014-633595). R. C. R. is supported by CRUK (grant number C18281/A19169). J. G. S. is supported by an NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship Grant (APP1105807). J. T.; r is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), Convergence Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation Non-Clinical Fellowship. N. V-T. is funded by a pre-doctoral grant from the Agencia de Gestio d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) (2015 FI_B 00636), Generalitat de Catalunya. T. G. M. V was supported by ZonMW (TOP 40-00812-98-11010. J. F. W. is supported by the MRC Human Genetics Unit quinquennial programme QTL in Health and Disease. H. Y. is funded by Diabetes UK RD Lawrence fellowship (grant: 17/0005594). M. H. Z was supported by BBMRI-NL (CP2013-50). E. Z. is supported by the Wellcome Trust (098051). B. F. is supported by Novo Nordisk Foundation (12955) and an Oak Foundation Fellowship. S. S. and M-R. J. have received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme [under grant agreement No 633595] for the DynaHEALTH action. P. R. N. was supported by the European Research Council (ERC), University of Bergen, KG Jebsen and Helse Vest. G. D. S. works within the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol (MC_UU_12013/1). D. A. L was supported by the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013)/ERC Grant Agreement (Grant number 669545; DevelopObese), US National Institute of Health (grant: R01 DK10324), the UK Medical Research Council (grant: MC_UU_00011/6), Wellcome Trust GWAS grant (WT088806), an NIHR Senior Investigator Award (NF-SI-0611-10196) and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol. L. Paternoster was supported by the UK Medical Research Council Unit grants MC_UU_12013_5. N. J. T. is a Wellcome Trust Investigator (202802/Z/16/Z), is the PI of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (MRC & WT 102215/2/13/2), is supported by the University of Bristol NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and works within the CRUK Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme (C18281/A19169). V.W.V.J. received an additional grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (NWO, ZonMw-VIDI 016.136.361), a European Research Council Consolidator Grant (ERC-2014-CoG-648916) and funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 633595 (DynaHEALTH) and 733206 (LifeCycle). D. M. E. is funded by the UK Medical Research Council Unit grant MC_UU_12013_4, Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT130101709) and a NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (GNT1137714). S. F. A. G. is funded by the Daniel B. Burke Endowed Chair for Diabetes Research and R01 HD056465. D. I. B. is supported by Spinozapremie (NWO-56-464-14192) and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Science Professor Award (PAH/6635) to DIB. M. I. M. is a Wellcome Senior Investgator and NIHR Senior Investigator supported by the Wellcome (090532, 098381, 203141), NIHR (NF-SI-0617-10090) and the US National Institute of Health (grant: R01 DK10324), the UK Medical Research Council (grant: MCiabetes UK RD Lawrence fellowship (grant: 17/0005594). M. H. Z was supported by BBMRI-NLNIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford. The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, or the Department of Health.