Abstract
This prospective study used data from the BRISA Cohort, São Luís, Brazil (n = 1140) and analyzed associations between environmental factors up to the first 1000 days of life and “Childhood Asthma Symptoms”. “Childhood Asthma Symptoms” was a latent variable based on the number of wheezing episodes, emergency care visit due to wheezing, diagnosis of asthma and diagnosis of rhinitis. A theoretical model that included prenatal factors (socioeconomic status, pregestational body mass index-BMI, soft drink and junk food consumption), birth factors (gestational age, smoking and diseases during pregnancy, birth weight and type of delivery), first year of life factors (breastfeeding, environmental aeroallergens and respiratory diseases) and BMI z-score in the second year of life, was analyzed by structural equation modeling. High pregestational BMI, high soft drink consumption, cesarean section without labor, chill in the first three months of life, carpeted floor and child’s exposure to tobacco were associated with higher values of “Childhood Asthma Symptoms”. In contrast, high birth weight, breastfeeding and infant’s age were associated with lower values of “Childhood Asthma Symptoms”. These findings support the hypothesis that environmental factors that are present before conception and up to the first 1000 days of life are associated with asthma.
Highlights
Accumulating evidence has indicated that epigenetic mechanisms contribute to the aetiology of asthma in children, and asthma can start early in the intrauterine life[6]
The association between early life factors and “Childhood Asthma Symptoms” involves complex relationships of multicausality and temporality between variables, which can be better evaluated through structural equation modeling (SEM)
High birth weight and infant’s age were associated with lower “Childhood Asthma Symptoms” values
Summary
Accumulating evidence has indicated that epigenetic mechanisms contribute to the aetiology of asthma in children, and asthma can start early in the intrauterine life[6]. The association between early life factors and “Childhood Asthma Symptoms” involves complex relationships of multicausality and temporality between variables, which can be better evaluated through structural equation modeling (SEM). Through this method, it is possible to test, direct and indirect effects (mediation). Even if well-known risk factors for asthma have been studied, the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach allowed us to explore simultaneously direct and indirect effects of different variables at different stages of the life cycle (prenatal, birth and early life factors) in association with “Childhood Asthma Symptoms”. The objective of this prospective study was to analyze environmental factors during the prenatal period and the first 1000 days of life associated with “Childhood Asthma Symptoms” by using SEM
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
