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Neonatal characteristics as risk factors for preschool asthma
D Schaubel1, H Johansen, M Dutta
1Bureau of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Certain newborn traits significantly increase the risk of childhood asthma. Factors like male gender, low birth weight, and respiratory issues at birth predict early-onset asthma and hospitalizations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood asthma onset is often linked to early life factors.
- Neonatal characteristics are recognized as potential predictors of asthma symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between specific birth characteristics and the incidence of physician-diagnosed preschool asthma.
- To evaluate the impact of neonatal factors on asthma-related hospitalizations in children aged 0-4 years.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a provincial health organization.
- Employed logistic regression analysis to calculate odds ratios (OR) for various neonatal variables.
- Adjusted for mutual effects of variables to assess independent associations.
Main Results:
- Male gender, low birth weight (<1500 g), prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) with or without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) were significantly associated with preschool asthma diagnosis.
- Male gender, low birth weight, RDS (with/without BPD), TTN, and severe birth asphyxia showed significant associations with asthma hospitalizations.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal characteristics are significant determinants of preschool asthma risk.
- These early life factors influence both the incidence of asthma and the need for hospitalization due to the condition.
Abstract:
Childhood asthma usually begins early in life. Neonatal characteristics are reportedly predictive of symptom onset. This investigation utilized data from a provincial health organization to evaluate the effect of several birth characteristics on asthma incidence and hospitalization for asthma during age 0-4. Using logistic regression, the odds ratios (OR) for the following variables indicate a significant (p < 0.05) association with physician-diagnosed preschool asthma: male gender (OR = 1.72), birthweight < 1500 g (OR = 2.11), prematurity (OR = 1.34), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in the presence (OR = 2.95) or absence (OR = 1.61) of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN; OR = 1.36). Male gender (OR = 1.91), birthweight < 1500 g (OR = 2.56), RDS with and without BPD (OR = 3.35 and 2.50, respectively), TTN (OR = 2.08), and severe birth asphyxia (OR = 1.94) showed an important association with hospitalization due to asthma. Neonatal characteristics are important determinants for the risk of preschool asthma, even after mutual adjustment.