Elective Caesarean Delivery Associated with Infant Hospitalisation for Intestinal But Not Respiratory Infection

We assessed the impact of caesarean delivery on offspring respiratory and intestinal infection.

Data were extracted from all live births (n = 429,058) occurring in the Australian state of Queensland between January 2009 and December 2015, and followed for 12 months. Births were categorised as either non-medically indicated caesarean or vaginal delivery and each offspring had a record (present/absent) of respiratory and intestinal infection hospitalisation for each month from birth to 12 months.

Infants delivered by non-medically indicated caesarean were more likely to experience respiratory infection [OR = 1.51 (1.15, 1.99)] and intestinal infection [OR = 1.74 (1.19, 2.55)] than those born by vaginal delivery. In the propensity score weighted analyses the estimate for respiratory infection was similar but non-significant [OR = 1.52 (0.99, 2.31)], while the association with intestinal infection strengthened [OR = 2.21 (1.25, 3.89)].

Our findings provide strong evidence for a specific and clinically meaningful link between non-medically indicated caesarean delivery and infant intestinal infection.