Association of maternal anemia with increased wheeze and asthma in children

January 01, 0001

Association of maternal anemia with increased wheeze and asthma in children

Increasing interest has focused on maternal nutrition and micronutrient status during pregnancy and respiratory disease development in the offspring. The aim of this study by researchers from the US was to examine the relationship between maternal anemia in pregnancy with wheeze and asthma in early childhood. The cohort included children of women followed through pregnancy and recontacted when the child was 6 years of age to evaluate respiratory health.

Maternal anemia was reported by 11.9% of mothers and was associated with recurrent infant wheeze in the first year, wheezing before age 3 and early-onset transient and early- onset persistent wheeze patterns, respectively. Among children of mothers with asthma, maternal anemia was associated with recurrent wheeze in year 1 and wheeze before age 3. Offspring of mothers with asthma also had increased odds of asthma diagnosis and current asthma.

The researchers concluded: "Maternal anemia during pregnancy is associated with infant respiratory health outcomes."

Correct, an association.


For the full abstract, click here.

Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 106(2):131-139, February 2011
© 2011 Elsevier, Inc
Association of maternal anemia with increased wheeze and asthma in children. Elizabeth W. Triche, Lisbet S. Lundsberg, Paige G. Wickner, et al. Correspondence to Elizabeth Triche: [email protected]

Category: B. Blood/Blood Forming Organs/Immune Mechanisms, R. Respiratory, W. Keywords: maternal anaemia, wheeze, asthma, association, children, cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 6 May 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.