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Perinatal risk factors for hospitalization for pneumococcal disease in childhood: a population-based cohort study

Barbara E Mahon1, Vera Ehrenstein, Mette Nørgaard

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, T3E, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118, USA. mahonbe@bu.edu

Pediatrics
|April 4, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Birth factors like low birth weight and preterm birth significantly increase hospitalization risk for childhood pneumococcal disease, especially in infants. Further research is needed to understand these complex relationships.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric epidemiology
  • Infectious disease research
  • Public health

Background:

  • Childhood pneumococcal disease remains a significant cause of hospitalization.
  • Understanding the influence of perinatal factors on disease risk is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between birth-related factors and subsequent hospitalization for childhood pneumococcal disease.
  • To identify specific perinatal variables that elevate the risk of pneumococcal disease hospitalization.

Main Methods:

  • A large cohort study involving singletons born in western Denmark (1980-2001).
  • Utilized population-based registries for birth and hospitalization data up to age 12.
  • Employed Poisson regression to analyze incidence rates and estimate rate ratios for pneumococcal disease hospitalization.

Main Results:

  • 1052 hospitalizations for pneumococcal disease occurred among 338,504 births, with pneumonia being the most common diagnosis.
  • Highest hospitalization rates were observed in infants aged 0-24 months, particularly those born preterm, with low birth weight, low 5-minute Apgar scores, or birth defects.
  • Elevated adjusted rate ratios for hospitalization were linked to low birth weight, birth defects, and low 5-minute Apgar scores across all ages. Preterm birth and other factors showed increased risk primarily in younger infants (0-6 months).

Conclusions:

  • Gestation and birth characteristics play a significant role in the risk of childhood pneumococcal disease hospitalization.
  • The study highlights specific risk factors and age-related patterns, prompting further investigation into underlying mechanisms.
Abstract

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