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Breastfeeding and snoring: a birth cohort study

Bronwyn K Brew1, Guy B Marks1, Catarina Almqvist2

  • 1Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ; The University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Plos One
|January 14, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding for over one month significantly reduces the risk of habitual snoring and sleep apnea in children with a family history of asthma. This finding suggests a protective effect on upper airway development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Respiratory Health

Background:

  • Childhood sleep-disordered breathing, including snoring and sleep apnea, is a growing concern.
  • The impact of infant feeding practices on long-term respiratory health is not fully understood.
  • Asthma and allergies are common in children and may influence sleep patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between breastfeeding and the occurrence of habitual snoring and witnessed sleep apnea in children.
  • To investigate if breastfeeding duration influences the risk of developing sleep-disordered breathing.
  • To explore potential mediating factors such as BMI, asthma, atopy, and rhinitis.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of children with a family history of asthma, recruited antenatally.
  • Infant feeding practices were recorded during the first year of life.
  • Snoring and witnessed sleep apnea were assessed at age 8 years using parent-completed questionnaires and analyzed with logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • 18.8% of children reported habitual snoring, and 2.7% experienced witnessed apnea.
  • Breastfeeding for over one month was associated with a reduced risk of habitual snoring (adjusted OR 0.48) and witnessed sleep apnea (adjusted OR 0.17).
  • Longer breastfeeding duration showed an inverse association with habitual snoring prevalence (adjusted OR 0.79).

Conclusions:

  • Breastfeeding for more than one month offers protection against habitual snoring and witnessed sleep apnea in children with a family history of asthma.
  • The protective effect is not explained by BMI, current asthma, atopy, or rhinitis.
  • Potential mechanisms may involve improved oropharyngeal development due to breastfeeding, leading to reduced upper airway dysfunction.
Abstract

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