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Prenatal factors and occurrence of rhinitis and eczema among offspring
B Xu1, M R Järvelin, J Pekkanen
1Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, Finland.
Insights
Prenatal factors like infections during pregnancy and lower birth order may increase a child's risk of developing allergies. These findings highlight the importance of the in utero environment for allergic disease development.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal epidemiology
- Allergy and immunology
- Developmental origins of health and disease
Background:
- Emerging evidence suggests atopic phenotypes may be programmed during gestation.
- Understanding prenatal influences is crucial for early allergy prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal factors and the development of allergic rhinitis and eczema in offspring.
- To identify specific pregnancy-related risk factors for childhood allergic diseases.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a population-based prospective birth cohort in northern Finland (n=8088).
- Longitudinal follow-up of children to age 7 years to assess allergic disease prevalence.
- Statistical adjustment for potential confounding variables.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 3.3% and allergic eczema was 6.7% by age 7.
- Low parity, febrile infections during pregnancy, and pre-pregnancy contraceptive use were associated with increased risk.
- First-trimester infections significantly elevated risk for both rhinitis (OR 2.65) and eczema (OR 1.63).
- First-trimester bleeding and increased maternal weight gain were risk factors specifically for rhinitis.
Conclusions:
- Obstetric complications and maternal infections during pregnancy are potential risk factors for offspring allergic disorders.
- The prenatal environment plays a significant role in the development of childhood allergies.
Background:
It has recently been suggested that an atopic phenotype may already be programmed in utero. We examine here the association between prenatal factors and the subsequent development of allergic rhinitis and eczema among offspring.
Methods:
The analyses were based on 8088 children in a population-based prospective birth cohort started in northern Finland in 1985-6.
Results:
The prevalences of allergic rhinitis and allergic eczema by the age of 7 years among 8088 children were 3.3% and 6.7%, respectively. The results indicate that low parity, febrile infections in pregnancy, and the use of contraceptives before pregnancy increased the risk of allergic disorders among children. Bleeding in the first trimester and a greater weight gain during pregnancy appeared to be risk factors for rhinitis only. Children whose mothers experienced infections in the first trimester had ORs of 2.65 (95% CI 1.50-4.69) for rhinitis and 1.63 (95% CI 1.00-2.69) for eczema after adjustment for potential confounders.
Conclusions:
Obstetric complications and infection in pregnancy may increase the risk of allergic disorders among the offspring.