Associations Between Maternal Distress During Early Life Periods and Offspring Respiratory Infections and Allergic Outcomes

Associations Between Maternal Distress During Early Life Periods and Offspring Respiratory Infections and Allergic Outcomes

Frontiers in Pediatrics

10.3389/fped.2022.749323

http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.749323

Hui Xing Lau, Michelle Zhi Ling Kee, Qai Ven Yap, Elizabeth Huiwen Tham, Yiong Huak Chan, Anne Eng Neo Goh, Oon Hoe Teoh, Johan Gunnar Eriksson, Keith M. Godfrey, Peter D. Gluckman, Yap Seng Chong, Jerry Kok Yen Chan, Hugo Van Bever, Bee Wah Lee, Lynette Pei-chi Shek, Michael J. Meaney, Evelyn Xiu Ling Loo

allergic sensitisation, Eczema, maternal distress, postnatal, preconception, pregnancy, rhinitis, wheeze

26 January 2023

Lau, H. X., Kee, M. Z. L., Yap, Q. V., Tham, E. H., Chan, Y. H., Goh, A. E. N., Teoh, O. H., Eriksson, J. G., Godfrey, K. M., Gluckman, P. D., Chong, Y. S., Chan, J. K. Y., Van Bever, H., Lee, B. W., Shek, L. P., Meaney, M. J., & Loo, E. X. L. (2022). Associations Between Maternal Distress During Early Life Periods and Offspring Respiratory Infections and Allergic Outcomes. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.749323

BackgroundIncreasing evidence suggests that maternal distress is a risk factor for development of respiratory infections and allergic diseases in the offspring. We aim to evaluate the link between maternal distress during critical periods in early life, namely the preconception, pregnancy and postnatal periods, and development of respiratory infections and allergic diseases in the offspring from the Singapore PREconception Study of long Term maternal and child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) cohort.MethodsMaternal perceived distress was evaluated using validated questionnaires including Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) administered during three time periods: preconception (three months apart at four timepoints), pregnancy (during each trimester) and postnatal (3 and 6 months post-delivery). Child eczema, rhinitis and wheeze outcomes were evaluated using a modified ISAAC questionnaire at ages 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Child allergic sensitization was determined by skin prick testing at 18 months.ResultsAmong 332 mother-child pairs studied, higher maternal distress during preconception and pregnancy increased the risks of wheeze development in the first 18 months; for example, preconception and pregnancy BDI-II scores ≥20 were associated with increased risks of wheeze by 18 months [adjusted risk ratios 3.2 (95%CI 1.1–9.4) and 2.5 (1.0–5.9), respectively]. Emotional and practical support from family during preconception decreased the risks of offspring wheeze. No associations were observed between maternal distress and offspring eczema, rhinitis and allergic sensitization.ConclusionMaternal distress during critical early life periods was associated with offspring wheeze in the first 18 months of life. Supporting maternal mental health even before pregnancy could reduce the risk of offspring wheeze.

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

This research / project is supported by the National Medical Research Council - Translational and Clinical Research (TCR) Flagship Program
Grant Reference no. : NMRC/TCR/004-NUS/2008

This research / project is supported by the National Medical Research Council - Translational and Clinical Research (TCR) Flagship Program
Grant Reference no. : NMRC/TCR/012-NUHS/2014

This research is supported by core funding from: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences
Grant Reference no. : NA

Supported by the UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12011/4), the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR Senior Investigator [NF-SI- 0515-10042] and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre [IS-BRC-1215-20004]), the European Union (Erasmus+Programme ImpENSA 598488- EPP-1-2018-1-DE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP) and the British Heart Foundation (RG/15/17/3174)

https://oar.a-star.edu.sg/communities-collections/articles/19932

2296-2360

Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences

https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.749323