First trimester fetal size and prescribed asthma medication at 15 years of age

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Antenatal factors are increasingly recognized as contributors to childhood asthma development.
• Early fetal development may play a crucial role in long-term respiratory health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between first-trimester fetal size and the risk of asthma at 15 years of age.
• To determine if reduced fetal growth in early pregnancy predicts later asthma diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized ultrasound scans to measure first and second-trimester fetal size.
• Assessed asthma medication dispensing data and self-reported usage at age 15.
• Analyzed data from a large birth cohort study with high follow-up rates.

Main Results:

• A reduction in first-trimester fetal size z-score was associated with increased odds of asthma medication dispensing (OR 1.26) and self-reported asthma medication use (OR 1.55) at age 15.
• Participants dispensed asthma medications showed reduced first and second-trimester fetal size and lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) at ages 5, 10, and 15.
• A statistically significant association was found between smaller fetal size and later asthma diagnosis (p=0.003).

Conclusions:

• First-trimester fetal size is a potential early indicator of childhood asthma risk.
• Antenatal factors, even in the first trimester, may significantly influence respiratory well-being throughout childhood.
• Findings suggest that early fetal growth monitoring could offer insights into future respiratory health outcomes.