1305Early chronic inflammation and behavioural problems in children at age two: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Abstract Background Inflammation has been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of adult mental illness and been implicated mechanistically in childhood behavioural problems like internalising and externalising symptoms. High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA) are biomarkers of chronic low-grade inflammation. We aimed to investigate whether hsCRP and GlycA, and environmental factors that influence these inflammatory biomarkers, were associated with internalising and externalising behaviours in early childhood. Methods The Barwon Infant Study is a population-derived birth cohort recruited using an unselected antenatal sampling frame in Victoria, Australia. Infant bloods collected at birth and 12-month were analysed for hsCRP by ELISA and GlycA by NMR. Environmental factors were derived from questionnaires undertaken antenatally to four years postnatally. Internalising and externalising behaviours at age two were measured by the Child Behaviour Checklist. Associations between inflammatory biomarkers and behavioural outcomes were assessed by multivariable regression analyses adjusted for relevant factors. Results Increased GlycA levels at birth (GlycAbirth)(β = 5.22 T-score units; 95% confidence interval (CI)(1.22, 9.21; P=0.01) and decreased GlycA levels at 12 months (GlycA12months)(β=-6.47 T-score units; 95% CI(-11.44, -1.50); P=0.01) were associated with increased internalising behaviours at age two. Association persisted for GlycAbirth, but not for GlycA12months when adjusted for GlycA at both time points within the same model. Weak associations were observed for hsCRP at both time points and externalising behaviours at age two. Conclusions Our findings document an association between increased GlycAbirth and greater internalising behaviours in children aged two years. Elevated early chronic inflammation may be an important pathway in adverse behavioural development in children. Key messages Increased GlycA levels at birth is associated with greater internalising behaviours in children at age two years.