Abstract
Past studies have showed associations between antibiotic exposure and child weight outcomes. Few, however, have documented alterations to body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) trajectory milestone patterns during childhood after early-life antibiotic exposure. To examine the association of antibiotic use during the first 48 months of life with BMI trajectory milestones during childhood in a large cohort of children. This retrospective cohort study used electronic health record data from 26 institutions participating in the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2016. Participant inclusion required at least 1 valid set of same-day height and weight measurements at each of the following age periods: 0 to 5, 6 to 11, 12 to 23, 24 to 59, and 60 to 131 months (183 444 children). Data were analyzed from June 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. Antibiotic use at 0 to 5, 6 to 11, 12 to 23, 24 to 35, and 36 to 47 months of age. Age and magnitude of BMI peak and BMI rebound. Of 183 444 children in the study (mean age, 3.3 years [range, 0-10.9 years]; 95 228 [51.9%] were boys; 80 043 [43.6%] were White individuals), 78.1% received any antibiotic, 51.0% had at least 1 episode of broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure, and 65.0% had at least 1 episode of narrow-spectrum antibiotic exposure at any time before 48 months of age. Exposure to any antibiotics at 0 to 5 months of age (vs no exposure) was associated with later age (β coefficient, 0.05 months [95% CI, 0.02-0.08 months]) and higher BMI (β coefficient, 0.09 [95% CI, 0.07-0.11]) at peak. Exposure to any antibiotics at 0 to 47 months of age (vs no exposure) was associated with an earlier age (-0.60 months [95% CI, -0.81 to -0.39 months]) and higher BMI at rebound (β coefficient, 0.02 [95% CI, 0.01-0.03]). These associations were strongest for children with at least 4 episodes of antibiotic exposure. Effect estimates for associations with age at BMI rebound were larger for those exposed to antibiotics at 24 to 35 months of age (β coefficient, -0.63 [95% CI, -0.83 to -0.43] months) or 36 to 47 (β coefficient, -0.52 [95% CI, -0.72 to -0.31] months) than for those exposed at 0 to 5 months of age (β coefficient, 0.26 [95% CI, 0.01-0.51] months) or 6 to 11 (β coefficient, 0.00 [95% CI, -0.20 to 0.20] months). In this cohort study, antibiotic exposure was associated with statistically significant, but small, differences in BMI trajectory milestones in infancy and early childhood. The small risk of an altered BMI trajectory milestone pattern associated with early-life antibiotic exposure is unlikely to be a key factor during prescription decisions for children.
Highlights
Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed medications in early childhood.[1]
Exposure to any antibiotics at 0 to 5 months of age was associated with later age (β coefficient, 0.05 months [95% CI, 0.02-0.08 months]) and higher body mass index (BMI) (β coefficient, 0.09 [95% CI, 0.07-0.11]) at peak
Effect estimates for associations with age at BMI rebound were larger for those exposed to antibiotics at 24 to months of age (β coefficient, −0.63 [95% CI, −0.83 to −0.43] months) or to 47 (β coefficient, −0.52 [95% CI, −0.72 to −0.31] months) than for those exposed at 0 to 5 months of age (β coefficient, 0.26 [95% CI, 0.01-0.51] months) or 6 to 11 (β coefficient, 0.00 [95% CI, −0.20 to 0.20] months)
Summary
Prior studies that examined these associations[3,5,12,13,14,15] have primarily focused on antibiotic exposures before 24 months of age and weight outcomes measured only on a single occasion. Few studies[16] have investigated whether antibiotic exposure after 24 months of age is associated with greater weight or whether early antibiotic exposure alters longitudinal BMI trajectory patterns during childhood. Coupled with prior studies on weight outcomes at fixed points in midchildhood, examining these intermediate milestones could provide information about whether antibiotic exposure might alter weight in the short and long term
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