Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and asthma in children.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate whether prenatal exposure to acetaminophen is associated with risk of diagnosed asthma and asthma symptoms in children.


METHODS
The authors prospectively followed 1,505 pregnant women and their children until 6 years (+/-3 months) of life. Acetaminophen use in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy was assessed before 24 weeks of gestation and within 1 month of delivery, and asthma in children was assessed when the child was 6 years old. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were derived from logistic regression models controlling for potential confounders.


RESULTS
Acetaminophen was used by 69% of women during pregnancy. Use of acetaminophen did not significantly increase the risk of asthma (aOR 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53-1.10). Acetaminophen use during both the first and the third trimester was associated with a significantly reduced risk of asthma (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.36-0.98). There was no evidence of a dose response, and consumption greater than 10,400 mg (32 tablets) a month did not increase risk (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.19-5.30).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that acetaminophen use during pregnancy does not increase risk of asthma in children.


METHODS
II.
Kang
Elizabeth M
EM
From the Center for Perinatal Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Lundsberg
Lisbet S
LS
Illuzzi
Jessica L
JL
Bracken
Michael B
MB
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen