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MATERNAL STRESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA
T Bakhtadze1, K Nemsadze1, V Beridze1
1David Tvildiani Medical University, Tbilisi; Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Georgia.
Insights
Maternal severe stress during pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of childhood asthma. Factors like low birth weight and parental history of allergies also correlate with childhood asthma development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood asthma is a prevalent respiratory condition with significant global health implications.
- Environmental factors and maternal health during pregnancy are increasingly recognized as crucial in asthma development.
- Existing research suggests a potential link between maternal stress and fetal lung development, impacting asthma risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal psychological stress during pregnancy and the incidence of childhood asthma.
- To identify environmental factors and maternal risk factors that correlate with childhood asthma.
- To explore the intrauterine effects of maternal conditions on the development of asthma in children.
Main Methods:
- A case-controlled retrospective study involving 84 children aged 6-8 years, with 40 diagnosed with asthma.
- Maternal risk factors and environmental correlates were assessed using a questionnaire.
- Statistical analyses were performed to determine correlations between various factors and childhood asthma.
Main Results:
- Severe maternal stress during pregnancy showed a significant positive correlation with childhood asthma (r=.532; p=0.000).
- Other positive correlations included low birth weight (<2500g), maternal and paternal history of asthma, allergies, and chronic bronchitis, as well as lower parental education levels.
- Negative correlations were observed with full-term birth, breastfeeding, moderate maternal stress, working parents, and higher family income.
Conclusions:
- Intrauterine exposure to maternal factors, particularly severe psychological stress, significantly influences the development of childhood asthma.
- Maternal stress during pregnancy may act as a trigger for wheezing and asthma in offspring.
- The findings underscore the importance of maternal well-being during pregnancy for preventing childhood respiratory diseases like asthma.
Abstract:
Asthma is a common disease with increasing prevalence both in children and adults. WHO estimates that annually 15 million disability-adjusted life-years are lost and 250,000 asthma deaths are reported worldwide. Approximately 500,000 annual hospitalizations are due to asthma. To study the Relationship between environmental factors and childhood asthma has been studied. Maternal stress during pregnancy might affect fetal lung development and subsequently predispose to childhood asthma. The aim of the study was to assess the associations of maternal psychological stress during pregnancy and identify environmental correlates of the conditions with childhood asthma. Case-controlled retrospective study among 84 children, 6-8 yy. (among them 40 with verified asthma). We assessed maternal risk - factors and environmental correlates by the questionnaire. An increased risk of asthma was found in infants of pregnant women with severe stress. Results of statistical analyses showed reliable positive correlation with asthma: birth weight <2500 (r=.232; p=0.035); severe stress (r=.532; p=0.000); asthma history/mother (r=.426; p=0.000); allergy/mother (r=.402; p=0.000); chronic bronchitis /mother (r=.447; p=0.000); asthma/father (r=.425; p=0.000); allergy/father (r=.245; p=0.026); eczema/father - (r=0.081; - p=0.466); chronic bronchitis/father (r=.304; p=0.005); primary educatin/mother (r=.240; p=0.029); primary education/father (r=.246; p=0.025); Negative correlation: term newborn (r=-.514; p=0.000); breastfeeding (r=-.325; p=0.003); moderate stress (r=-.263; p=0.016); working parents (r=-.418; p=0.000); financial income of the family (r=-.275; p=0.012). Our results suggest intrauterine effects of maternal factors during pregnancy on the presence of childhood asthma. Maternal severe stress during pregnancy can trigger of wheezing and asthma of their child.
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