ERJ Open Res. 2021 Oct; 7(4): 00504-2021
Mike Xue,1Emily Dehaas,2Nagendra Chaudhary,3Paul O’Byrne,4,5Imran Satia,4,5 and Om P. Kurmi4,5,6Author informationArticle notesCopyright and License informationDisclaimer
Abstract
Objective
To investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and the development of paediatric asthma.
Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted with MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health source databases. Retrospective/prospective cohorts in children aged <18 years with breastfeeding exposure reported were included. The primary outcome was a diagnosis of asthma by a physician or using a guideline-based criterion. A secondary outcome was asthma severity.
Results
42 studies met inclusion criteria. 37 studies reported the primary outcome of physician-/guideline-diagnosed asthma, and five studies reported effects on asthma severity. Children with longer duration/more breastfeeding compared to shorter duration/less breastfeeding have a lower risk of asthma (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75–0.93; I2 = 62.4%). Similarly, a lower risk of asthma was found in children who had more exclusive breastfeeding versus less exclusive breastfeeding (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72–0.91; I2=44%). Further stratified analysis of different age groups demonstrated a lower risk of asthma in the 0–2-years age group (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.63–0.83) and the 3–6-years age group (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.55–0.87); there was no statistically significant effect on the ≥7-years age group.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding are associated with a lower risk of asthma in children aged <7 years.
Short abstract
The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies suggest that duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding are associated with a lower risk of asthma in children aged <7 years https://bit.ly/3p804PG