Caesarean section and risk of asthma and allergy in adulthood.
This study evaluated the relationship of caesarean section to the risk of asthma in adulthood. The data were based on a prospective birth cohort born in northern Finland in 1966. In 1997, when the members of the cohort were 31 years old, information on current doctor-diagnosed asthma and other allergic disorders was obtained from 1953 subjects by a self-administered questionnaire and skin prick test. Caesarean section had a strong effect on current doctor-diagnosed asthma in adulthood with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.23 (95% CI 1.53, 6.80). However, no substantial effects were observed for atopy, hay fever, and atopic eczema.
Xu
B
B
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College School of Medicine, Norfolk Place W2 1PG, London, UK.
Pekkanen
J
J
Hartikainen
A L
AL
Järvelin
M R
MR
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk