Prenatal Maternal Psychological Distress and Offspring Risk for Recurrent Respiratory Infections

Abstract

To assess the relation between maternal prenatal psychological distress, comprising depression and anxiety symptoms and relationship quality, and the risk of recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) in children up to 2years of age. Children with RRIs frequently use health care services and antibiotics. Prenatal maternal psychological distress can be one, previously unidentified risk factor for RRIs. The study population was drawn from a population-based pregnancy cohort in Finland (www.finnbrain.fi). Children with RRIs (n=204) and a comparison group (n=1014) were identified by maternal reports at the child age of 12 or 24months. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Symptom Checklist-90 anxiety subscale, the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised 2, and the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale were used to assess maternal symptoms and parental relationship quality at 34weeks of gestation. Adjustment for maternal postnatal depressive and anxiety symptoms was performed. Maternal prenatal Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.08-1.44), Symptom Checklist-90/Anxiety (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.01-1.76), Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised 2 (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.11-1.47), and Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.01-1.58) total sum scores were associated with child RRIs by the age of 24months. Greater number of siblings, shorter duration of breastfeeding, and the level of maternal education were also identified as risk factors for child RRIs. Maternal prenatal psychological distress is linked with a higher risk for child RRIs.