Preterm Birth Reduces the Incidence of Atopy in Adults

Abstract

M Siltanen, K Wehlkalampi, P Hovi. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;127(4):935–942 There is evidence that the risk for atopic disease is influenced during fetal development and by early life events. This study evaluated the association between preterm birth, very low birth weight (VLBW), and atopy in young adulthood. Subjects from the Helsinki Study of VLBW Adults were compared to matched controls born at ≥37 weeks' gestation. Of 255 VLBW adults (birth weight: 1120 ± 221 g; weeks of gestation: 29.2 ± 2.2) and 314 controls (birth weight: 3593 ± 471 g; weeks of gestation: 40.1 ± 1.1) invited, 166 (65.1%) and 172 (54.8%), respectively, chose to participate. The mean age …