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Lower risk of atopic dermatitis among infants born extremely preterm compared with higher gestational age
Author(s) -
Barbarot S.,
GrasLeguen C.,
Colas H.,
Garrot E.,
Darmaun D.,
Larroque B.,
Roze J.C.,
Ancel P.Y.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.12581
Subject(s) - medicine , atopic dermatitis , gestational age , odds ratio , cohort , confounding , gestation , cohort study , confidence interval , population , birth weight , pediatrics , risk factor , pregnancy , obstetrics , immunology , genetics , environmental health , biology
Summary Background It is not yet known whether the risk of developing atopic dermatitis ( AD ) is influenced by preterm birth. Moreover, AD risk has not been assessed in a large sample of extremely preterm infants (< 29 weeks’ gestation). Objectives To determine whether the risk of AD is influenced by preterm birth. Methods We investigated the relationship between gestational age ( GA ) and AD using data from two independent population‐based cohorts, including a total of 2329 preterm infants, of whom 479 were born extremely preterm. Results There was a lower percentage of children with AD in the extremely preterm group compared with those born at a greater GA (Epipage cohort, 2‐year outcome: 13·3% for 24–28 weeks, 17·6% for 29–32 weeks, 21·8% for 33–34 weeks, P = 0·02; LIFT cohort, 5‐year outcome: 11% for 24–28 weeks, 21·5% for 29–32 weeks, 19·6% for 33–34 weeks, P = 0·11). After adjusting for confounding variables, a lower GA (< 29 weeks) was significantly associated with decreased risk of AD in the Epipage cohort [adjusted odds ratio ( aOR ) 0·57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·37–0·87; P = 0·009] and the LIFT cohort ( aOR 0·41, 95% CI 0·18–0·90; P = 0·03). Conclusions Very low GA (< 29 weeks) was associated with a lower risk of AD compared with higher GA (29–34 weeks) and full‐term birth.