The Prevalence and Trends of the Early Introduction of Cow Milk to Newborns at Tertiary Care Center: A Risk of Atopy

Ali F Atwah,Saad A Alsaedi,Bakr H Alhussaini,Emad A Koshak

doi:10.3390/ijerph18136686

Abstract

Although all health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), few neonates meet these recommended goals. The early intake of cow milk formulas (CMFs) has been linked to several childhood illnesses, including atopic diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of early exposure to CMFs in the nursery of a tertiary care hospital in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A retrospective review was conducted on the medical records of feeding practices of neonates born in King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) at Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Two months from each year (May and December) were selected over the last five years. Approval from the ethical research committee at KAUH was obtained. Eight hundred and ninety-four different neonate files were reviewed. Four hundred and eighty-seven (54.5%) were males. Out of the total of 894, 838 (93.7%) newborns experienced an early introduction to CMFs, 797 (89.1%) received mixed CMF and breast milk, 41 (4.6%) received CMF only, and 56 (6.3%) received exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Surprisingly, EBF has declined over time, from 39% in May 2016 to 1% in December 2020. The prevalence of early exposure to CMF was very high in newborns at KAUH nursery, and this prevalence was trending upwards. Extensive teaching programs on EBF and allergy prevention for mothers and related health care providers are highly recommended

Highlights

Introduction of Cow Milk toNewborns at Tertiary Care Center: ARisk of Atopy
The prevalence of Cow milk protein allergy (CMPA) ranges from 0.5% to 3% in persons of 1 year of age who live in developed countries [7]
The medical records for healthy newborns who were admitted to the normal nursery in King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) during May and December over the five years from 2016 to 2020 were reviewed

Summary

Introduction

An Australian study has demonstrated the prevalence of atopic disorders to be 32.5% [4], while another study demonstrated a prevalence of 40.3% in Denmark [5]. The prevalence of allergic disorders in Saudi Arabia has been demonstrated to be 41.7% [6]. Cow milk protein allergy (CMPA) is a prevalent disease in pediatrics. Saudi’s study has shown a CMPA prevalence of 12.5% and 13% of patients with a suspicion of food allergy [8,9]. Another Saudi study has demonstrated that 27% of patients with food allergies are sensitized to milk [10]

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