Relationship between birth weight or fetal growth rate and postnatal allergy: a systematic review protocol

Area of Science:

• Perinatal epidemiology
• Allergy and immunology
• Developmental origins of health and disease

Background:

• Birth size and fetal growth are potential early life determinants of postnatal health.
• Allergic diseases represent a significant global health burden, with increasing prevalence.
• Understanding the link between fetal development and allergy is crucial for prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the association between birth size/fetal growth and postnatal allergic diseases.
• To assess relationships between various measures of fetal growth (absolute birth weight, adjusted birth weight, fetal growth metrics) and clinical allergic outcomes.
• To consolidate findings on eczema, hay fever, allergic asthma, and anaphylaxis in relation to early growth parameters.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across major biomedical databases.
• Inclusion of studies reporting on birth weight (absolute or adjusted) or fetal growth measures.
• Analysis of studies diagnosing or reporting on common allergic conditions (eczema, rhinitis, asthma, anaphylaxis).

Main Results:

• Evidence synthesis is ongoing; specific associations are detailed within the full review.
• Preliminary findings suggest potential links between altered fetal growth and increased allergy risk.
• The review highlights variability in methodologies and outcome reporting across studies.

Conclusions:

• The relationship between fetal growth and postnatal allergy is complex and warrants further investigation.
• Early life growth patterns may influence the trajectory of allergic disease development.
• This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of current evidence, identifying gaps for future research.