PO-1038 Correlations Between Feeding Habits And Asthma In Children Admitted To A Paediatric Department

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> Classically, breastfeeding is considered to have a protective effect on allergy in children. On the other hand, the early introduction of cow milk may be associated to development of allergic diseases in childhood. <h3>Aim</h3> To asses the relationship between feeding habits and development of allergic diseases (mainly asthma) in children admitted to a paediatric department. <h3>Methods</h3> We performed a retrospective analysis of 621 children aged 3–12 years admitted in our department during 2013. The study group comprised 356 patients diagnosed with asthma (238 aged 3 to 6). We conducted a stratified analysis based on age and correlated to infant feeding, using the chi squared test. <h3>Results</h3> In the study group, 56 children aged under 6 were breastfeed more than 6 months vs. 60 in the control group: p = 0.005, RR = 0.77(0.63–0.95). 32 asthmatic children aged over 6 were breastfeed at list 6 months vs. 32 in the non-asthma group p = 0.07, RR = 0.82(0.62–1.09). Regarding the introduction of cow milk before 12 months, the stratified results by age were: p = 0.009 and RR = 1.21(1.03–1.43) and, respectively, p = 0.02 and RR = 1.28 (1.01–1.62). The use of a hypoallergenic formula was not statistically significant between groups: p = 0.12 and respectively 0.27. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Breastfeeding had a protective effect during the early childhood, whilst the introduction of cow milk correlated with asthma in both age groups. Hipoalergenic formulas seemed to have no protective effect in our study.