Open AccessMaternal depression and childhood injury risk: A population‐based cohort study in Denmark
Author(s) -
Lyngsøe Bente Kjær,
MunkOlsen Trine,
Vestergaard Claus Høstrup,
Rytter Dorte,
Christensen Kaj Sparle,
Bech Bodil Hammer
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.2029
Subject(s) - hazard ratio , depression (economics) , medicine , offspring , cohort , cohort study , population , poison control , pediatrics , confidence interval , pregnancy , medical emergency , environmental health , biology , genetics , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract Aims To assess the association between different stages of maternal depression and injury risk in offspring aged 0–10 years. Methods Population‐based cohort study of all live‐born children in Denmark from 1 January 1997 until 31 December 2013 ( n = 1,064,387). Main outcome measure was emergency department contacts with a main diagnosis of injury coded as DS00‐DT98 (chapter XIX) according to the ICD‐10. All information was obtained from Danish national registries. Results Maternal depression was associated with higher injury hazard in the offspring throughout childhood compared to offspring of mothers with no history of depression. The strongest association was seen for the first year of life. First‐time maternal depression was most strongly associated with injury in the child, especially in the first year of life (aHR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.48–1.96). Children of mothers with relapse depression had 1.57 higher hazard of injury in the first year of life (aHR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.44–1.70). Children of mothers with previously treated depression ( post depression) had 1.13 higher hazard of injury in the first year of life (aHR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.09–1.17). Continuous treatment for depression was associated with a nonsignificant higher hazard of injuries in the first year of life (aHR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.91–1.23). Conclusions Maternal depression was associated with higher injury risk in the offspring, particularly in early childhood. The association persisted in children of mothers with relapse depression. Our results suggest that children of mothers with depression are vulnerable several years after depression onset and treatment cessation.