Asthma and atopic dermatitis in children born moderately and late preterm

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Paula Haataja^1,2, Päivi Korhonen^3,4, Riitta Ojala^3,4

¹Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, PL 2000, 33520, Tampere, Finland. paula.haataja@pshp.fi.

European Journal of Pediatrics

|February 23, 2016

Insights

Moderately preterm (MP) and late preterm (LP) children require more asthma medication and hospitalizations than term-born infants, but less than very preterm (VP) infants. Atopic dermatitis hospitalizations increased with gestational age in preterm infants.

Area of Science:

Pediatrics
Neonatology
Allergy and Immunology

Background:

Preterm birth is associated with increased risks of respiratory morbidity and asthma.
The occurrence of atopic dermatitis in moderately preterm (MP) and late preterm (LP) infants is less understood.
This study investigates asthma and atopic dermatitis outcomes in preterm infants up to age seven.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate asthma medication needs and hospitalizations for asthma and atopic dermatitis in moderately preterm (MP), late preterm (LP), and very preterm (VP) children compared to term-born children.
To identify risk factors for asthma medication in MP and LP children.
To analyze the relationship between gestational age and atopic dermatitis hospitalizations.

Main Methods:

A national register study involving 1,018,302 children born in Finland between 1991 and 2008.
Comparison of asthma medication reimbursement and hospitalization rates for asthma and atopic dermatitis among VP, MP, LP, and term-born children up to age seven.
Statistical analysis to identify predictors of asthma medication in MP and LP children.

Main Results:

MP and LP children had higher asthma medication reimbursement (8.0%, 5.7%) and asthma hospitalizations (10.6%, 7.3%) than term controls (3.8%, 4.8%), but lower rates than VP children (15.4%, 20.1%).
Hospitalization for atopic dermatitis was more frequent in term children (5.2%) compared to MP (4.2%) and LP (4.7%) children.
Male sex, maternal smoking, maternal diabetes, and ventilator therapy predicted asthma medication in MP and/or LP children.

Conclusions:

MP and LP children experience increased asthma-related medication needs and hospitalizations compared to term infants, though less than VP infants.
Atopic dermatitis hospitalizations show a trend of increasing with higher gestational age.
Gestational age is a significant factor influencing respiratory and allergic outcomes in early childhood.

Read full analysis

Abstract

Unlabelled:

This national register study aimed to evaluate the need of asthma medication reimbursement and hospitalization due to asthma and atopic dermatitis up to 7 years of age in moderately preterm (MP) (32-33 weeks) and late preterm (LP) (34-36 weeks) children compared to very preterm (VP) (<32 weeks) and term (≥37 weeks) children. Altogether, 1,018,302 children born in Finland between 1991 and 2008 were assessed. The MP and LP groups received asthma medication reimbursement more frequently than term controls (8.0 and 5.7 vs. 3.8 %), but less frequently than VP children (15.4 %). Hospitalization due to asthma was more common among MP (10.6 %) and LP (7.3 %) children than term children (4.8 %) but less common than in VP children (20.1 %). Hospitalization due to atopic dermatitis was more frequent among term (5.2 %) compared to MP (4.2 %) and LP (4.7 %) children. Male sex, maternal smoking, maternal diabetes, and ventilator therapy predicted asthma medication in the MP and/or LP children.

Conclusion:

MP and LP children seem to need medication and hospitalization for asthma more often than term controls but less frequently than VP children followed by 7 years of age. Hospitalization due to atopic dermatitis becomes more common with increasing gestational age.

What Is Known:

• MP and LP infants have an increased risk for early respiratory morbidity and to asthma. • Less is known on the occurrence of atopic dermatitis in this patient group. What is New: • Medication and hospital care due to asthma were more frequent in school-aged MP and LP than in term infants. Male sex, maternal smoking, maternal diabetes and ventilator therapy predicted asthma. • Hospitalization due to atopic dermatitis became more common with increasing gestational age.

Keywords:

Asthma Atopic dermatitis Late preterm Moderately preterm Preterm

More Related Videos

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment

Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment

Published on: September 27, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Asthma-I: Introduction

Asthma-I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that requires careful management due to its varying symptoms and influencing factors. It is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptom frequency and intensity may vary considerably over time. It is also linked to immune system responses to allergens and irritants, highlighting the complex...

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition involving inflammation of the airways, hyper-reactivity, and reversible obstruction of the airways. This condition can significantly impact a person's quality of life, making breathing difficult and leading to distressing symptoms.
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.

Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification

Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition marked by inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neural mechanisms.
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:

Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications

Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications

Asthma, a common chronic respiratory condition, is classified considering the frequency and severity of symptoms alongside lung function impairment. Understanding this classification is essential for appropriate treatment and management. Here's a detailed look at the classification of asthma and its clinical features and complications:
Classification of Asthma

Breathing

Breathing

The process of breathing, inhaling and exhaling, involves the coordinated movement of the chest wall, the lungs, and the muscles that move them. Two muscle groups with important roles in breathing are the diaphragm, located directly below the lungs, and the intercostal muscles, which lie between the ribs. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and creating more room for the lungs to expand. When the intercostal muscles contract, the ribs...

Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management

Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management

The diagnosis and management of asthma are comprehensive, encompassing clinical assessments, lung function tests, and pharmacological interventions. Here's an overview:
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Long-term changes in milk component immunoglobulins reflect milk oral immunotherapy outcomes in Finnish children.

Allergy·2022

Immunogenicity and safety of different schedules of the meningococcal ABCWY vaccine, with assessment of long-term antibody persistence and booster responses - results from two phase 2b randomized trials in adolescents.

Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics·2021

Immunogenicity and safety of an investigational quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine administered as a booster dose in children vaccinated against meningococcal disease 3 years earlier as toddlers: A Phase III, open-label, multi-center study.

Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics·2021

Reduced expiratory variability index (EVI) is associated with controller medication withdrawal and symptoms in wheezy children aged 1-5 years.

Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology·2020

Anti-TNF treatment during pregnancy and birth outcomes: A population-based study from Denmark, Finland, and Sweden.

Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety·2020

Hospital admissions for lower respiratory tract infections after early-, late-, and post-term birth.

Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology·2020

See all related articles