Association between Exclusive Breastfeeding and the Incidence of Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between breastfeeding and the risk of developing nephrotic syndrome using a population-based nationwide birth cohort in Korea. Study designThis nationwide cohort study utilized data from the Korean National Health Information Database and the Korean National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children. The study included all children born between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018, who underwent their first health screening, which included a specific questionnaire on breastfeeding between 4 and 6 months of age. Associations between nephrotic syndrome and exclusive breastfeeding were estimated using adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) derived from Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for sociodemographic variables, with follow-up until the occurrence of nephrotic syndrome, eight years post-index date, death, or December 31, 2022, whichever was first. ResultsThe study population comprised 1,787,774 children (median follow-up: 7.96 years; IQR: 6.31–8.00 years), including 612,556 exclusively breastfed and 1,175,218 formula-fed children. Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a decreased risk of developing nephrotic syndrome (aHR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.69 – 0.93). Subgroup analysis stratified by sex mirrored the overall findings, although statistical significance was not observed in girls (boys: aHR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62–0.92; girls: aHR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.70 – 1.09). Sensitivity analysis confirmed these results. ConclusionExclusive breastfeeding was associated with a 20% reduced risk of developing nephrotic syndrome up to 8 years of age.