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Are influences during pregnancy associated with wheezing phenotypes during the first decade of life?
Author(s) -
Kurukulaaratchy Ramesh J,
Waterhouse Linda,
Matthews Sharon M,
Arshad Sayed H
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2005.tb01938.x
Subject(s) - wheeze , medicine , pregnancy , asthma , tobacco smoke , pediatrics , cohort , population , respiratory sounds , cohort study , environmental health , genetics , biology
Aim: Recently, attention has focused on possible early life origins for asthma. We sought to identify whether factors present during pregnancy were associated with development of childhood wheezing phenotypes. Methods: A whole population birth cohort ( n =1456) on the Isle of Wight, UK, was followed through to age 10 y. Where possible, information regarding environmental exposures and events during pregnancy was obtained from the maternity records ( n =1238). Children were seen at ages 1, 2, 4 and 10 y, and wheezing symptoms were used to define wheezing phenotypes in the first decade ( n =1034). Results: Risk of early‐onset persistent wheeze (onset in the first 4 y, still present at age 10) was increased by environmental tobacco smoke exposure in pregnancy (OR=2.44; 95% CI: 1.37–4.34) plus maternal asthma (3.57; 1.84–6.94), but reduced by cat ownership (0.30; 0.13–0.62). Early transient wheeze (onset in the first 4 y, but not present at age 10) was increased by environmental tobacco smoke exposure (1.58; 1.02–2.45), male gender (1.68; 1.09–2.60) and low birthweight (3.65; 1.27–10.52). No environmental factors in pregnancy were associated with late‐onset persistent wheeze (onset after age 4 y, still present at 10 y). Conclusion: In addition to genetics, maternal exposures during pregnancy show association with childhood and especially early‐life wheezing phenotypes.