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Prenatal antibiotic use and risk of childhood wheeze/asthma: A meta-analysis

Desheng Zhao1, Hong Su1, Jian Cheng1

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology : Official Publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
|July 2, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic exposure during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of childhood wheeze and asthma. This risk is particularly elevated when antibiotics are used during the second and third trimesters.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Inconsistent associations reported between prenatal antibiotic exposure and childhood wheeze/asthma.
  • Previous studies lack comprehensive analysis to establish a definitive link.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis.
  • To determine if antibiotic exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of childhood wheeze/asthma.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and CNKI databases up to September 2014.
  • Inclusion of cohort and case-control studies assessing the association.
  • Data pooled using random-effects model; study quality assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Main Results:

  • Ten studies included in the final analysis.
  • Overall pooled odds ratio (OR) for wheeze/asthma was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.13-1.27).
  • Increased risk observed with third-trimester antibiotic use (OR 1.33, 95% CI, 1.11-1.60).

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal antibiotic exposure may elevate the risk of childhood wheeze/asthma.
  • The risk is notably higher with exposure during the latter two trimesters of pregnancy.
  • Further large-scale, prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm findings and address confounders.
Abstract

Keywords:
antibioticchildhoodmeta-analysisprenatal/pregnancywheeze/asthma

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