Cesarean section without medical indication and risk of childhood asthma, and attenuation by breastfeeding.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous studies suggest that caesarean section (CS) may increase the risk of asthma in children, but none of them could preclude potential confounding effects of underlying medical indications for CS. We aim to assess the association between CS itself (without medical indications) and risk of childhood asthma.

Methods

We conducted a hospital-based case-control study on childhood asthma with 573 cases and 812 controls in Shanghai. Unconditional logistic regression models in SAS were employed to control for potential confounders.

Results

Our study found that CS without medical indication was significantly associated with elevated asthma risk (adjusted OR = 1.58 [95% CI 1.17-2.13]). However, this risk was attenuated in children fed by exclusive breastfeeding

SUBMITTER: Chu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5602659 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature