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Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
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Published on: August 7, 2017

Does antibiotic exposure during infancy lead to development of asthma?: a systematic review and metaanalysis

Fawziah Marra1, Larry Lynd, Megan Coombes

  • 1Health Economics Program, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of BC, 828 W Tenth Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L8 Canada.

Chest
|March 16, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Early antibiotic exposure is linked to childhood asthma. This meta-analysis suggests a significant association, highlighting the need for further research into this risk factor.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Childhood asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition.
  • The role of early-life environmental exposures, including antibiotics, in asthma development is under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the association between antibiotic exposure in the first year of life and the development of childhood asthma.

Main Methods:

  • Meta-analysis of eight observational studies (four prospective, four retrospective) published from 1966 to present.
  • Included studies involved children exposed to antibiotics in the first year of life and diagnosed with asthma between ages 1-18.
  • Analyzed data from 12,082 children with 1,817 asthma cases for the primary association and 27,167 children with 3,392 asthma cases for dose-response analysis.

Main Results:

  • A pooled odds ratio (OR) of 2.05 (95% CI, 1.41 to 2.99) indicated a significant association between antibiotic exposure and childhood asthma.
  • The association was stronger in retrospective studies (OR, 2.82) compared to prospective studies (OR, 1.12).
  • Each additional course of antibiotics in the first year of life was associated with an increased risk (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.28).

Conclusions:

  • Exposure to at least one course of antibiotics in the first year of life appears to be a risk factor for childhood asthma.
  • Limitations in current studies necessitate large-scale, prospective research to confirm this association.
  • Further investigation is crucial to understand the mechanisms linking early antibiotic use to asthma development.
Abstract

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