Maternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy and risk of childhood atopic diseases
N J Elbert1,2, L Duijts3,4, H T den Dekker1,3,5
1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Maternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy are linked to a higher risk of childhood inhalant allergy and eczema. These associations persist regardless of postpartum maternal or paternal psychiatric symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive immunology
- Childhood allergy and eczema
- Perinatal mental health
Background:
- Maternal mental health during pregnancy may influence fetal immune development.
- This can potentially increase the risk of atopic diseases in children.
- Understanding these links is crucial for early intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy and allergic sensitization, allergy, and eczema in children up to age 10.
- To determine if these associations are independent of postpartum maternal and paternal psychiatric symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A population-based prospective cohort study of 5205 children from fetal life.
- Maternal and paternal psychiatric symptoms assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory.
- Allergic sensitization (skin prick tests) and physician-diagnosed allergy/eczema (questionnaires) evaluated until age 10.
Main Results:
- No association found between maternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy and allergic sensitization.
- Maternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of inhalant allergy.
- Maternal overall psychiatric and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy were linked to a higher risk of eczema.
Conclusions:
- Maternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy are associated with increased risks of childhood inhalant allergy and eczema.
- These findings are independent of maternal psychiatric symptoms after delivery and paternal psychiatric symptoms.
- Highlights the importance of maternal mental well-being during pregnancy for child's allergic disease risk.
Background:
Maternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy might affect the developing immune system and subsequent risk of childhood atopic diseases.
Objective:
Our aim was to examine the associations of maternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy with allergic sensitization, allergy and eczema in children until age 10 years.
Methods:
This study among 5205 children was performed in a population-based prospective cohort from foetal life onwards. We assessed maternal and paternal psychiatric symptoms (overall, depressive, anxiety) during pregnancy and at 36 months after delivery, and maternal psychiatric symptoms at 2 and 6 months after delivery using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Inhalant and food allergic sensitization were measured by skin prick tests, and physician-diagnosed inhalant and food allergy or eczema by questionnaires from birth until age 10 years. We used multivariate logistic regression, multinomial logistic regression or generalized estimating equation models where appropriate.
Results:
We observed no association of maternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy with allergic sensitization. Maternal overall psychiatric, depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of inhalant allergy only (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.96 (1.44, 2.65), 1.58 (1.25, 1.98) and 1.61 (1.27, 2.03), respectively, per 1-unit increase). Maternal overall psychiatric and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of eczema (1.21 (1.05, 1.39) and 1.15 (1.02, 1.29), respectively, per 1-unit increase). Effect estimates did not materially change when maternal psychiatric symptoms after delivery, or paternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy and after delivery were taken into account.
Conclusions And Clinical Relevance:
Maternal psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy were associated with increased risks of childhood inhalant allergy and eczema, independent of maternal psychiatric symptoms after delivery and of paternal psychiatric symptoms.
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