RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The relationship between maternal adiposity and infant weight gain, and childhood wheeze and atopy
JF Thorax
JO Thorax
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society
SP 372
OP 379
DO 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-202556
VO 68
IS 4
A1 Katharine C Pike
A1 Hazel M Inskip
A1 Sian M Robinson
A1 Cyrus Cooper
A1 Keith M Godfrey
A1 Graham Roberts
A1 Jane S A Lucas
A1 the Southampton Women's Survey Study Group
YR 2013
UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/68/4/372.abstract
AB Background Obesity and asthma have increased in westernised countries. Maternal obesity may increase childhood asthma risk. If this relation is causal, it may be mediated through factors associated with maternal adiposity, such as fetal development, pregnancy complications or infant adiposity. We investigated the relationships of maternal body mass index (BMI) and fat mass with childhood wheeze, and examined the influences of infant weight gain and childhood obesity. Methods Maternal prepregnancy BMI and estimated fat mass (from skinfold thicknesses) were related to asthma, wheeze and atopy in 940 children. Transient or persistent/late wheeze was classified using questionnaire data collected at ages 6, 12, 24 and 36 months and 6 years. At 6 years, skin-prick testing was conducted and exhaled nitric oxide and spirometry measured. Infant adiposity gain was calculated from skinfold thickness at birth and 6 months. Results Greater maternal BMI and fat mass were associated with increased childhood wheeze (relative risk (RR) 1.08 per 5 kg/m2, p=0.006; RR 1.09 per 10 kg, p=0.003); these reflected associations with transient wheeze (RR 1.11, p=0.003; RR 1.13, p=0.002, respectively), but not with persistent wheeze or asthma. Infant adiposity gain was associated with persistent wheeze, but not significantly. Adjusting for infant adiposity gain or BMI at 3 or 6 years did not reduce the association between maternal adiposity and transient wheeze. Maternal adiposity was not associated with offspring atopy, exhaled nitric oxide, or spirometry. Discussion Greater maternal adiposity is associated with transient wheeze but not asthma or atopy, suggesting effects upon airway structure/function but not allergic predisposition.