Weight gain in the first two years of life, asthma and atopy: the SCAALA cohort study
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Published on: August 7, 2017
Sheila M A Matos1, Sandra R Jesus2, Silvia R D M Saldiva3
11Institute of Collective Health,Federal University of Bahia,Rua Basílio da Gama s/n°,Campus Universitário do Canela,5° andar,40110-040 Salvador,Bahia,Brazil.
Insights
Slower weight gain in early childhood may protect against asthma symptoms. However, both slow and fast weight gain can lead to adverse health outcomes, requiring further public health investigation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood asthma and wheezing are significant public health concerns.
- Early life factors, including weight gain, are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to asthma development.
- Understanding these early life associations is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between early-life weight gain patterns and the incidence of wheezing and asthma.
- To assess the association with other asthma-related indicators such as serum IgE, skin reactivity, and pulmonary function.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study was conducted in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, from 1997 to 2005.
- Data were collected from 669 children up to 11 years of age, focusing on asthma, risk factors, and early-life weight gain.
- Weight gain was categorized as fast (Z-score >0·67) or slow (Z-score <-0·67), with Poisson regression used for multivariate analysis.
Main Results:
- Wheezing was reported in 25.6% of the children.
- Fast weight gain (Z-score >0·67) occurred in 29.6%, and slow weight gain (Z-score <-0·67) in 13.9%.
- Children with slow early-life weight gain exhibited 36% fewer asthma symptoms (prevalence ratio = 0.65; 95% CI 0.42, 0.99).
Conclusions:
- Slower weight gain during the first two years of life may act as a protective factor against asthma symptoms.
- The public health implications are uncertain, as both slow and fast weight gain patterns are associated with potential adverse health consequences.
- Further research is needed to clarify the long-term impact and clinical relevance of these findings.
Objective:
To evaluate the association between weight gain in the first two years of life and the occurrence of wheezing, asthma, serum IgE, skin reactivity and pulmonary function.
Design:
Cohort study.
Setting:
The metropolitan region of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Subjects:
The association was studied between 1997 and 2005 in 669 children up to 11 years of age. Data were collected on asthma and risk factors, both current factors and those present in the first years of life. Weight gain was considered fast when the Z-score was >0·67. Poisson regression was used in the multivariate statistical analysis.
Results:
Wheezing was reported in 25·6 % of the children. Weight gain was considered fast (Z-score >0·67) in 29·6 % of the children and slow (Z-score <-0·67) in 13·9 %. Children in the slow weight gain group had 36 % fewer symptoms of asthma (prevalence ratio = 0·65; 95 % CI 0·42, 0·99).
Conclusions:
Slower weight gain in the early years of life may constitute a protective factor against symptoms of asthma. The relevance of this finding for public health is not yet certain, since it is known that children with slow and fast weight gain may be more likely to develop adverse health consequences related to both these situations.
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