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Neonatal size in term children is associated with asthma at age 7, but not with atopic dermatitis or allergic sensitization
Author(s) -
Sevelsted A.,
Bisgaard H.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2012.02805.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , atopic dermatitis , odds ratio , birth weight , body mass index , gestational age , allergy , pediatrics , pregnancy , sensitization , prospective cohort study , low birth weight , atopy , immunology , genetics , biology
Background We hypothesized that anthropometrics in the newborn is associated with development of asthma later in life. Methods The study included a prospective, longitudinal clinical study of a birth cohort of 411 D anish neonates born at term of mothers with a history of asthma. The primary endpoint was physician‐diagnosed asthma at age 7 years. Allergic sensitization and atopic dermatitis ( AD ) were also investigated. Infant size was measured at the research clinic on four occasions during the first year of life. Risk for asthma, AD , and allergic sensitization at age 6–7 were estimated from logistic regression. Time to first asthma and AD were investigated by C ox regression. Multivariate models were adjusted for gender, gestational age, and mothers smoking during pregnancy. Results Neonatal weight, length, body mass index and head circumference ( z ‐score) were all significantly associated with asthma at age 7. Adjusted odds ratio for asthma by estimated birth weight z ‐score: 1.87 [1.23–2.84]; P = 0.004. Adjusted HR for onset of asthma by neonatal weight z ‐score: 1.46 [1.08–1.96]; P = 0.013. Neonatal size did not associate with AD or allergic sensitization. Conclusions Increased neonatal size was significantly associated with asthma at age 7 but not AD or allergic sensitization in at‐risk children born at term. The findings suggest some common prenatal mechanisms linking body size and asthma.